BY ERMIZI MUHAMAD
SHAH ALAM, JUNE 12: The Education Ministry should restructure teacher exchange procedures so that a clearer and transparent mechanism can be implemented, said Keadilan Youth Chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
He said there was doubt among teachers regarding the implementation of existing mechanisms, which was described as a weakness in the ministry.
He said the failure also affected the teachers exchange applications, especially those involved.
“In recent years emerged a handful of new teachers were placed in a school less than three months to get the permission to exchange, apparently the teachers have to contact in the ministry.
Will the ministry strive to fulfil the request of teachers to serve in their respective states or follow their partner in order to be close to their loved ones?
“For me, the ministry may not approve all the changes in the short term because of the applications in several states each year will exceed vacancies in a particular state,” he said in a statement.
Nik Nazmi said this while commenting on the statement of Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid regarding the approval of 2,261 applications out of a total of 6,636 applications for that category.
He said the approval was from January to June this year involving 1,421 teachers who were placed in primary schools and 840 in secondary schools throughout the country.
At the same time, Nik Nazmi also referred the weakness in the teacher management system applications (EGtukar) used by teachers for the purpose of transfer applications.
“Under that system, the approval decision is made based on one vacancy for one choice only.
“Compared to the actual number, the numbers of applications were around 15.420 and still many teachers are waiting for the ministry’s approval of their applications.
“However, in solving the issue of these transfers, can we see any initiative from the Federal Government?” he questioned.
Weak management, what is the fate of 15,420 teachers?
