News

  • Nation
  • World Updates
  • Courts
  • Parliament
  • Columnists
  • Opinion
  • Honours List

Thursday March 27, 2008

Not compulsory for teachers to attend Penang state functions

PENANG: No action will be taken against teachers who do not attend official functions organised by the new State Government.

National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) Penang branch Lim Ming Tzong @ Adam Alim Abdullah said teachers in Penang no longer needed to give explanation letters for failing to attend such functions.

“A senior state Education Department official told school heads at a briefing last week that attendance was not compulsory,” he said yesterday.

He added that the teachers were granted the “flexibility” since Penang was no longer under the Barisan Nasional rule.

In a related development, it is learnt that school heads who wished to invite MPs or state assemblymen for their school functions were told to obtain consent from the department.

When contacted, Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy, who heads the education portfolio, said: “It's sad to hear that the department has come out with such a directive. This shows the department does not respect the mandate of the people,” he added.

“We are here simply because we won in the general election. And we are keen to work with the federal government to solve education issues,” he said.

Penang Education Department deputy director Ibrahim Mohamad could not be reached for comment.

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

News Poll