Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Rural Posting For Teachers: Why Double Standards?

Recently there was a suggestion that all new school teachers should first be given posting in rural areas. This is a good idea, but only if it applies to all civil servants.

Firstly, why must teachers the only ones be given rural postings? Some teachers might originate from rural areas and they might want to get a feel of the urban life, so why send them back where they come from if they do not want it?

Secondly, some teachers from urban areas may simply be not cut out for life in rural areas. Must we force them to go to rural areas and then let the situation affect their quality of teaching?

Thirdly, if the Ministry of Education is so concerned about lack of teachers in rural areas, maybe they can explain why there are many applicants from rural areas in Sabah who have had their applications rejected.

There are many qualified school-leavers who have applied for teacher training and had their applications rejected here. While there are many graduates in Sabah who have applied for post-graduate teacher training and also have their applications rejected.

So, to understand problems in rural areas better, it would be better for ministers to be first posted in rural areas before they can actually perform duties as ministers in air-conditioned rooms and chauffeur-driven cars. Let the works minister walk across dangerous suspension bridges and wade in knee-deep rivers to reach villages.

And let the health minister open up a clinic in villages where the only transport arrives once a week. Let the education minister teach in a school where there is no electricity, water, proper accomodation and where the minister would have to do all clerical work on his or her own.

Maybe then they could understand the plight of rural folks better and help to solve it instead of making knee-jerk reactions like asking all teachers to be given mandatory rural posting. And let us not forget nurses, policemen, magistrates, postmen, doctors, commisioners of oaths and other civil servants whose service could be valuable to rural folks.

9 comments:

MIGS-SABAH said...

Quote: "So, to understand problems in rural areas better, it would be better for ministers to be first posted in rural areas before they can actually perform duties as ministers in air-conditioned rooms and chauffeur-driven cars."

It is timely that the Prime Minister of M'sia be rotated to Sabah and be based in Sabah to uplift Sabah to be on par with the rest of the nation.

That change should be welcome especially in 1Malaysia.

Joshua Kong

Anonymous said...

Very good suggestion. If that is done, Sabah and Sarawak would not be left behind.

Anonymous said...

beware of the arrogant Fed-W.My colony trained tchrs may brainwash the rular folks' mindset that E.My should always stays as protective sub-territory of the Fed-W.My... and conclude that E.My ppl are dwelling on trees top.

Anonymous said...

Brainwashing has already taken place. The product can be seen especially among Muslim students from Dusun background who do not eat in non-Muslim eateries even they are halal. A far cry from the days where Muslim gentlemen would patronise non-Muslim eateries and attend weddings in churches in Sabah.

Marc Skubich said...

Hello to the Herald!

Is there a way to contact you by email?

Thanks!

Best regards
Marc

Anonymous said...

Marc Skubich could be the SM brainwasher. Unable to contribute ideas in public and discuss the topic openly.

Anonymous said...

Marc Skubich could be the SM undergroung agent... muting those voices consider as noisy for the SM.

Anonymous said...

agree wit the author ...having seen first hand the conditions of some rural school wit no roads, water electricity and without adequeate teachers and classroom i sugest that the education director and minister visit these school or better still live wit them for a day..or maybe the principal of this school can invite their mps and assembleymen together wit the press better still invite najib to their school...maybe that way the ball will roll (or some heads)
seventh son

Anonymous said...

u r too bias. have u do a research about it? 4 ur information, in my Institut Pendidikan Guru in KL, almost 60-70% r from sabah n sarawak. so dont make silly statement. make shame of ur self alredy.