KUCHING: The Sarawak Teachers’ Union (STU) has called on the Education Services Commission (SPP) to re-evaluate the current teacher recruitment system in Sarawak, citing concerns over declining quality and the lack of stringent selection measures.
STU president Kullin Djayang said that while efforts to increase the number of teachers in the state are commendable, the process should not come at the expense of quality.
“If we truly want to ensure sufficient and competent teachers in our schools, we cannot simply accept any candidate with an education degree.
“The institutions they graduate from and the processes they went through must also be considered,” he said in his recent statement.
He emphasised that graduates from public institutions such as UPSI, UPM, UTM and others are subject to rigorous entry requirements and professional evaluations, including a minimum CGPA of 3.0, MUET Band 3, and the MEDSI assessment.
“Similarly, students accepted into Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) programmes must meet high standards, including at least 5As in SPM, psychometric and fitness tests, as well as a specialised interview.
“These processes are in place to ensure that future educators are qualified, capable and truly suited to the profession,” he said.
Kullin expressed concern over recent special recruitment exercises in Sarawak, which have seen a significant number of graduates from private colleges entering the teaching service.
Many of these graduates, he noted, had bypassed key assessments like MEDSI, UKELP and psychometric tests, and often lacked the academic excellence demonstrated by their peers in public universities.
“The entry requirements for private colleges are much lower. Some of these students may even be SPM or STPM dropouts.
“This is unfair to high-performing students who failed to secure places in IPG or IPTA education programmes despite their strong academic records,” he stressed.
He further pointed out that the teaching profession, as a noble vocation, plays a vital role in shaping future generations.
Therefore, he stated it is imperative that only the most qualified and competent individuals are entrusted with the role.
Kullin urged the SPP to scrutinise private education institutions offering teacher training programmes, and to ensure that their facilities, academic staff and practicum components meet the required standards.
“SPP must ensure that interview processes for teacher recruitment prioritise academic merit, especially performance at SPM and STPM levels.
“We are not accusing any specific college, but we want to safeguard the integrity of our education system,” he added.
He also appealed to the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Sarawak government, through the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD), to work collaboratively to ensure that Sarawak continues to produce and recruit high-calibre educators.
“Every country aspires to achieve the best in education. That begins with our teachers.
“If we want quality education and quality human capital, we must start by selecting quality educators,” he said.
