Published: Thursday February 7, 2013 MYT 11:40:00 PM

Najib: Govt looking at reducing non-teaching workload in schools

By JOSEPH SIPALAN

PUTRAJAYA: Teachers can look forward to doing less non-teaching stuff as the Government develops a more focused and effective education system.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he was aware of the heavy workload faced by teachers, not only in educating but in matters that have nothing to do with their job.

"I have discussed this with (deputy Prime Minister) Tan Sri Muhyiddin (Yassin) and among the things we feel needs immediate attention is to reduce the burden on teachers.

"We need to find a way to take off this extra workload, especially if it is something that is not related to the core business of educating,” he said at Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah's Golden Jubilee celebration here.

Najib said this was part of the planned revamp of the national education system under the National Education Blueprint 2013-2025.

He noted that the education system must be able to produce “educated” individuals with the ability to compete with the best in the world.

“An educated person means someone who can think creatively and critically, has the ability to pinpoint problems and possesses a sharp mind and know between right and wrong.

“The 21st century is characterised by a contest of ideas.

"The ones who have the better ideas will surpass other countries... this is the kind of people we hope can be produced by our schools,” he said.

Najib hinted at the need for Malaysians to support the policies and initiatives, saying that the success of their efforts depends on the outcome of an “important event that will happen soon”.

“If it ends with a happy outcome, then I am sure that the education sector will only get better in the years to come,” he said in an apparent reference to the coming general election.

Najib also announced a special RM1mil allocation for the school.

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