KUCHING: The Kesatuan Guru Bumiputera Sarawak (KGBS) is committed to ensuring the welfare of teachers—particularly those posted to rural and remote schools in Sarawak—remains a priority.
Its president, Zulkiflee Sebli, said the matter continues to be a key challenge in efforts to strengthen Sarawak’s education system as a whole.
“In 2026, KGBS will continue to strengthen its role as a principled, mature and responsible union voice.
“Issues such as teachers’ workload, postings, service stability, work-life balance and welfare—especially for those in rural and remote areas of Sarawak—will remain the core focus of the union’s struggle.
“Sarawak’s geographical and logistical challenges require more flexible, evidence-based policy approaches, rather than overly general ones,” he said in a statement.
In this regard, Zulkiflee said KGBS hopes that teachers’ welfare and well-being will continue to be prioritised in every stage of education policy planning and implementation.
“Teachers who are emotionally, mentally and physically well are a fundamental prerequisite for effective quality education.
“KGBS stresses that any system improvements or the introduction of new initiatives must be implemented prudently and realistically, without adding to teachers’ existing workload,” he said.
He added that KGBS will remain committed to being a strategic partner to the Ministry of Education Malaysia and the Sarawak government, particularly in providing views, recommendations and constructive feedback for the benefit of teachers and students.
In addition, KGBS will place emphasis on strengthening teachers’ professional development, nurturing union leaders with integrity and credibility, and reinforcing unity and solidarity among its members.
Zulkiflee stressed that the teaching profession today demands not only pedagogical expertise but also emotional resilience, the wisdom to manage workloads, and the ability to adapt to increasingly evolving policies and systems.
