Temporary teachers treated like dirt, says Chong Chieng Jen

Kuching (Feb 1, 2012): Sim Yian Yun and six of her colleagues were told to leave after teaching two weeks at a government school here, but they are still hanging on to their job.

The seven teachers were recruited as Guru Sambilan Harian (GSH) at the end of last year based on a circular to all headmasters and principals of government and government aided schools in Sarawak.

The circular, dated Dec 30, 2011 and issued by the State Deputy Education Director Jaidah Alek, authorised headmasters and principals to recruit GSH.

However, Sim and the six were shocked to be told that their service was no longer needed through a second circular signed by Kuching Division Education Office’s Head of School Management Unit, on Jan 18.

The second circular, however, withdrew the powers of the headmasters and principals to recruit GSH.

Sim and the six were told on Jan 18 to leave their jobs  with three days’ notice.

 “Our last teaching day was on Jan 20, but we hang on,” Sim told reporters at the Kuching DAP service centre here.

Sim said she had the permission of the school’s principal to talk to the media about their plight, on condition the name of the school be not mentioned.

“My principal is giving us his support, and that is why he is allowing us to continue teaching,” Sim, who teaches Mathematics to Form 2 classes, said.

An electronic engineer by training, Sim said if she and the six teachers were to leave, the students would suffer because the Education Department has not sent any replacement teachers to the schools.

“In a way, we are giving our voluntary service and we hope that the department would allow us to continue teaching based on the terms and conditions offered to us, in the first place,” she said.

Sim said after obtaining her bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering from MultiMedia University, she became a part-time Mathematics teacher at a tuition centre.

She said she applied to be a GSH, and was accepted by the school’s principal.

Bandar Kuching member of parliament Chong Chieng Jen, speaking at the same press conference, said he has written a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the Education Minister, on the plight of Sim and her six colleagues.

“I am very disappointed with the flip-flop policy of the Education Ministry regarding temporary teachers,” he said.

He said the rights and welfare of temporary teachers have been gradually eroded over the years.

“Teachers who served as Guru Sambilan Harian do not have paid holidays. Basically, they are paid five teaching days,” he said.

“While the government is preaching better treatment for our workers, why are temporary teachers, especially GSHs, omitted?” he asked.

Chong, who is also the Kota Sentosa State Assemblyman, said there is no security of employment for GSHs.

“The ministry should treat them with more respect and accord them with the basic workers’ rights in country.

“It is not right for the ministry to treat them like dirt when there are replacement,” he said.

Chong said the cases involving Sim and her six colleagues were not the only ones in Sarawak.

“There are 607 GSHs whose services have been terminated and that 349 Guru Interim were sent to fill up the vacancies,” he said.

He said 258 vacancies have not been filled up.