NIBONG TEBAL: The Education Ministry will try to resolve the issue of shortage of teachers faced by certain schools nationwide before the new school session begins in March.

Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the issue was not only confined to Sarawak. but other states as well.

She, however, said the issue was not critical.

"There is the issue (shortage of teachers) in schools in Peninsular Malaysia as well.

"The issue in Sarawak is not critical, and we will address that first. I was asked about that during my working visit to Sarawak.

"For other states, we will also look into the matter. We will try to resolve the issue before the new school session begins in March," she told reporters after the Jawi constituency Chinese New Year Open house at Dewan Serbaguna Jawi here today.

Yesterday, Fadhlina said the ministry was making efforts to fill 50 per cent of the estimated 3,000 vacancies for teachers in Sarawak by March.

She had said the effort was her ministry's initial step to solve the issue of teacher shortage in Sarawak.

On a separate issue, Fadhlina said she would take all constructive criticisms with regards to the country's education system despite these issues being raised on social media, even by teachers themselves.

She had recently said that the practice of issuing warnings to teachers for criticising educational policies on social media should be immediately stopped.

This came after she was informed that a special education teacher at SMK Jalan Reko, Hasmadi Hamdan had been given a warning by officials for his criticisms on social media.

"I see it like this…there is no need for any warning to be issued.

"We welcome constructive criticism, but it must be done via correct avenues. This is for everybody.

"Even if we want to issue a warning, it should be for a right cause. Similarly, if we want to criticise, there is an appropriate channel to do so. As far as the ministry is concerned, we listen to all these constructive criticisms."

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/01/874594/moe-resolve-teacher-shortage-schools-nationwide-new-school-session