SIBU: The introduction of the co-teaching method, with two teachers managing a single classroom under the 2027 School Curriculum, is concerning as it could potentially impose more workload on teachers.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth Central Chairman, Cr Kevin Lau Kor Jie, said the new co-teaching method would require more planning and coordination among teachers.
He believed that instead of putting more workload on teachers, the focus should be on providing the right support for them.
“In addition, there is a need to have a significant transition period for teachers to adjust and adapt to the culture of collaboration within a single classroom.
“We have not even taken into consideration the issue of teacher shortages,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
Lau, who is also SUPP Bawang Assan branch chairman, was responding to the announcement by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek on the co-teaching method.
Fadhlina said the approach aims to balance academic achievement and character development and to make teaching and learning more engaging and effective by allowing teachers to be more creative and interactive.
Lau pointed out that the new concept of combining several subjects into a single session raises more questions than answers with regard to the education reform being echoed by the public, due to the series of events happening in schools throughout the country.
He believed that the Ministry of Education should come up with clear mechanisms before more reforms are announced, as no clear explanation is being provided to the public on its implementation.
He said this is particularly important for parents expecting quality education for their children, not more uncertainties caused by new policies that further deteriorate confidence in the national education system.
“In fact, our minister need not look far. She could take up the suggestion by Subang MP Wong Chen in a recent podcast with Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi, who suggested having more teacher assistants so that teachers are not overworked with administrative matters, thereby improving the quality and ability to teach in each classroom,” Lau suggested.
