PETALING JAYA, Oct 1 — Education groups are calling for Budget 2016 to turn around the teaching profession by spending more on the quality of teachers and less on infrastructure projects such as school renovations.
National Union of the Teaching Profession president Hashim Adnan urged the government to make teaching an attractive profession.
He said developed nations have highly paid teachers because they understand the value of teachers in the nation-building process.
“Take Singapore, Japan and South Korea for example,” he said.
“Teaching is a respected profession and people are trying to get into the field because it pays well.”
Hashim called on the government to expand the scope of education beyond science and technology.
“Arts and culture are just as important to a nation as factories and transport networks.
“Luxembourg for instance, has a special allocation for music teachers to develop their student’s musical talents,” he said.
Hashim said it was unfortunate only 13.3 per cent of participants ranked education as a priority for Budget 2016 on the prime minister’s blog.
“It is very sad to hear many view spending on education as an expense. It is vital to develop the human capital of the country,” he said.
Hashim suggested acquisition of military assets take a back seat for the short term and funding should be channeled to education.
“These weapons cost us billions that could be used instead to build computer labs and facilities for our students to provide them with a holistic education,” he said.
“We could have an education system like Australia where students can continue research and submit assignments from home.”
Parent Action Group for Education chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said the quality of teaching was more important.
“Raising the standard of teachers is of greater concern than infrastructure projects,” she said.
We really don’t need to undertake unnecessary renovations or obtain electronic gadgets.”
Noor Azimah called for a higher priority be placed on improving education.
“The teaching profession needs to be revamped,” she said.
“It should not be seen as a last resort but as a first class career option.”
She suggested raising teaching salaries to make the field competitive and such a move would see a large pool of qualified teachers jockeying for jobs.
“If teaching becomes a high income and competitive job, teachers would work hard lest they be replaced by more qualified individuals. We must ensure quality education,” she said.
Noor Azimah was disappointed that so few respondents of the survey on the prime minister’s blog considered education to be a priority.
“The focus is off and they don’t see the value in developing our education sector. It is also reflective of the state of our country that the cost of living has become such an issue and education is taking a back seat,” she said.
