KOTA SAMARAHAN: The special intake of teachers to fill vacant positions in Sarawak has been successfully completed with a sufficient quota, according to the Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister, Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn.
He stated that this recent intake has also significantly increased the number of teachers in Sarawak.
“For this current intake, we can confidently say that it is sufficient, with the quota nearly filled,” he explained.
“Therefore, we have a substantial number of teachers, though vacancies will naturally arise periodically due to retirements and other factors.”
He made these remarks to reporters after officiating the Innovation STEM Kota Samarahan Competition Programme at Jubilee Hall, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak Branch, today.
He further added that the Ministry of Education (MoE) will address these future vacancies with graduates from teacher training institutes (IPG) and other qualified candidates.
“So, the issue of teacher shortage in Sarawak has been resolved,” he emphasized.
As of the end of last December, 1,372 out of the 13,749 new teachers appointed under the Special Sarawak Intake were Sarawak-born and successfully placed throughout the state.
The MoE previously stated that these appointments resulted from proactive efforts by the ministry and the Education Services Commission (SPP) to address the teacher shortage.
Sagah also reported that, according to data from the Sarawak State Education Department, 96 per cent of schools in the state now have adequate teaching staff for existing subjects.
He noted that, on average, there is only one teacher vacancy per school. Sarawak has over 1,200 schools, encompassing both primary and secondary levels.
He expressed his hope that upcoming graduates from IPG will be able to fill these remaining vacancies.
