SIBU: The Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) has emphasised the need to strengthen teachers’ welfare and protection while expanding opportunities for students with special educational needs to develop skills and enter the workforce.
The issues were highlighted by STU deputy president Yong Sie Hng, at the STU Sibu Division’s 2026 Retirement Ceremony and Teachers’ Day celebration organised by STU Sibu Division at Paramount Hotel here on Saturday.
In his address, Yong said a teachers’ union should serve as more than an organisation that collects membership fees, stressing that its fundamental role was to safeguard members’ welfare, protect their interests and uphold the dignity of the teaching profession.
He expressed concern over civil lawsuits involving teachers in the course of carrying out their professional duties, noting that teachers were responsible not only for delivering lessons but also for managing students’ discipline, safety, welfare and development.
These responsibilities sometimes required teachers to make difficult decisions while facing various risks, he said.
Yong questioned whether teachers who performed their duties conscientiously should have to face the stress, uncertainty and financial burden of legal proceedings alone.
He called for greater attention to the needs of teachers facing legal action, adding that assistance and protection should not be limited to legal advice alone but should be assessed according to members’ actual needs and the union’s capacity.
Teachers should be able to carry out their responsibilities with confidence rather than being overwhelmed by excessive fear of potential legal consequences, he said.
Yong also stressed that teachers’ wellbeing was fundamental to quality education, as supported and protected teachers would be better positioned to educate students and foster a positive learning environment.
“Apart from protecting teachers’ interests, STU has a broader social responsibility to support students with special educational needs, particularly those enrolled in the Integrated Special Education Programme (PPKI).
“Such students should not be viewed solely in terms of their classroom learning needs, as they also possessed talents and abilities that could be developed to help them build independent and meaningful lives.
“Efforts to improve the employability of PPKI students are important in enabling them to acquire practical skills, enter the workforce and contribute to society,” he said.
He identified vocational skills, culinary arts, agriculture and services as among the areas in which these students could develop their abilities, provided they received appropriate opportunities, training, guidance and support.
He hoped that initiatives to improve their employability could be continued and expanded through cooperation among STU, schools, government agencies and industry players.
Educational success, he said, should not be measured solely by examination results but also by how effectively students were helped to build meaningful futures.
Yong also congratulated the teachers retiring this year, describing their retirement as recognition of their years of sacrifice, commitment and service to education.
He said teachers had played an important role in guiding and shaping generations of students and that their contributions would continue to leave a lasting impact even after they left the classroom.
He also commended the STU Sibu Division leadership and committee members for their continued efforts to strengthen the organisation and safeguard members’ welfare.
“I would also urge members to maintain unity and solidarity, as a union’s strength is measured not only by its membership but also by its willingness to stand alongside members when they needed support”
Meanwhile, STU Sibu Division chairman Kho Kiet Yong said teachers’ wellbeing deserved greater attention amid the growing demands of the profession.
In his welcoming speech at the ceremony, he said teachers today faced increasing responsibilities beyond classroom teaching, including administrative work, documentation, reporting and other duties.
He said teachers also had families and personal responsibilities, making it important to maintain a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives.
“When teachers felt valued, supported and trusted, they would be better motivated to carry out their duties, ultimately benefiting students and the wider school community.
“Safeguarding teachers’ welfare and ensuring students received quality education were closely connected and should be pursued together,” he stressed.
He said STU would continue to serve as a platform for educators to voice their concerns, protect their welfare and champion their interests through the appropriate channels.
Kho also called on members to strengthen unity, cooperation and mutual concern, saying the strength of a union depended not merely on its membership but on the solidarity demonstrated among its members.
Expressing appreciation to the guests and supporters who helped make the event possible, including the contributions from several companies, he thanked the sponsors for their support and expressed hope that the good working relationships between STU Sibu and its corporate partners would continue.
Also in attendance was Bawang Assan incumbent Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh as guest of honour.
