Latest news with #ContractofService
The Star
01-08-2025
- Politics
- The Star
97% of teacher placements done, aligning with needs
A TOTAL of 97% of newly trained teachers have been successfully placed with the cooperation of the Education Services Commission (SPP), says Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (pic). 'Our priority is always the pupils. Every child deserves access to quality education,' she said in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, adding that the ministry remains committed to ensuring adequate teacher distribution nationwide. 'Achieving a 97% placement rate is a reflection of our strong collaboration with SPP and we will continue to ensure sufficient teacher distribution nationwide.' She added that placements are made based on actual school needs and subject demand, in line with national education priorities. Fadhlina reiterated that priority is given to candidates from Sabah, Sarawak and Orang Asli communities, especially for placements near their hometowns. 'To support rural education development, the ministry created special pathways for Sabah, Sarawak and Penan candidates starting at the Institut Pendidikan Guru Malaysia (IPGM) level, enabling them to return and serve their communities.' For the current year, Fadhlina said placements for IPGM graduates are scheduled for September, subject to the outcome of interviews conducted by SPP. 'In 2024, all 5,256 IPGM graduates from the Bachelor of Education programme received placements across the country. 'For 2025, the process will begin this September following the conclusion of interviews.' Fadhlina also said the ministry is addressing the imbalance in subject specialisation, which has led to an oversupply in certain areas and shortages in others. 'We are expanding subject clusters and refining our matching process to ensure graduates are placed according to their academic and pedagogical training,' she said. In line with these efforts, she said the ministry has introduced structured training for graduates without formal education degrees who are recruited under the Contract of Service (COS) scheme. 'These COS teachers will undergo a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Education (DPG) at IPGM before being placed in schools.' Fadhlina added that teacher recruitment is no longer limited to IPGM or public universities. 'We are now opening opportunities to high-potential graduates from private Malaysian institutions and even foreign universities,' she said, adding that these candidates must still meet the ministry's qualification criteria. The ministry has also expanded pre-service teacher pathways to include those who completed Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) and matriculation programmes, to allow them to enrol in education training schemes. 'This ensures a broader and more inclusive talent pool to meet future demands,' she said. Fadhlina stressed that while applicants may indicate location preferences, all final placements are ultimately determined by school-level vacancies and subject requirements. 'The core of our placement process is the national education agenda. 'It is not about convenience – it is about fulfilling our duty to ensure that every classroom has a qualified teacher.'
The Star
31-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Teachers may face disciplinary action for declining first placement, says Fadhlina
KUALA LUMPUR: Teachers who decline their first job placement after graduating from teacher training programmes may face disciplinary action, including being blacklisted from reapplying for one to two years, the Dewan Rakyat was told. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the policy aims to ensure teaching positions are filled efficiently and align with national education priorities. 'This is not meant to punish, but to ensure that the aspirations of our education system are met. Placements are made based on actual needs and subject demands in schools across the country,' she said in the Lower House on Thursday (July 31). Fadhlina revealed that 97% of new teachers have already been successfully placed with the cooperation of the Education Services Commission (SPP). 'Our priority is always the pupils. Every child deserves access to quality education. Achieving a 97% placement rate is a reflection of our strong collaboration with SPP, and we will continue to ensure sufficient teacher distribution nationwide,' she said. She reiterated that priority is given to candidates from Sabah, Sarawak, and Orang Asli communities, especially for placements near their hometowns. 'To support rural education development, the ministry gives special attention to candidates from Sabah, Sarawak, and the Penan community. 'They are given priority through special pathways starting at IPG entry level, so they can return to serve in their home regions,' she said. For the current year, she said placements for IPG graduates are scheduled for September, subject to the outcome of interviews conducted by SPP. 'In 2024, all 5,256 IPG graduates from the Bachelor of Education programme received placements across the country. For 2025, the process will begin this September following the conclusion of interviews,' she said. Fadhlina also said the Ministry is addressing the imbalance in subject specialisation, which has led to oversupply in certain areas and shortages in others. 'We are expanding subject clusters and refining our matching process to ensure that graduates are placed according to their academic and pedagogical training,' she said. In line with these efforts, she said the Ministry has introduced structured training for graduates without formal education degrees who are recruited under the Contract of Service (COS) scheme. 'These COS teachers will undergo a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Education (DPG) at IPG to equip them with the necessary teaching skills before being placed in schools,' she said. Fadhlina added that teacher recruitment is no longer limited to IPG or public universities. 'We are now opening opportunities to high-potential graduates from private Malaysian institutions and even foreign universities,' she said, adding that these candidates must still meet the ministry's qualification criteria. The ministry, she said, has also expanded pre-service teacher pathways to include those who completed STPM, STAM, and matriculation programmes, allowing them to enrol in education training schemes. 'This ensures a broader and more inclusive talent pool to meet future demands,' she said. Fadhlina stressed that while applicants may indicate location preferences, all final placements are ultimately determined by school-level vacancies and subject requirements. 'The core of our placement process is the national education agenda. It is not about convenience - it is about fulfilling our duty to ensure that every classroom has a qualified teacher,' she said.
New Straits Times
12-07-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Ministry reaffirms vows to end contract doctor issue
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry assures that the government remains committed to resolving the long-standing issue of contract doctor appointments, with efforts underway to expedite their absorption into permanent positions. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the contract hiring system, introduced in 2016, was a temporary measure to address a backlog of medical graduates. "I want to stress that the contract system was implemented as an interim solution. We are now at the final stage of that policy and the government is committed to ending this model as soon as possible," he said. He also said the interim move was introduced when there were too many medical professionals in the country, but now the situation has changed and there is a dire need to have more doctors. He added that the contract of service system was nearing its end, but the transition would not be easy. "It depends on the availability of permanent positions, as well as several other important aspects involving other agencies," Dr Dzulkefly added. He said the ministry, in collaboration with the Public Service Department (PSD), would accelerate the process of appointing eligible contract doctors into permanent roles once vacancies are identified. He said this in response to renewed calls by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), which urges the government to abolish the contract system altogether, citing its negative impact on morale and long-term career progression within the public healthcare sector. The issue has gained urgency due to increasing concerns about Malaysian healthcare workers moving abroad, especially to Singapore, drawn by better pay, clearer career paths and improved working conditions. "We must act decisively to strengthen our healthcare workforce and ensure they remain motivated and valued within our system," Dr Dzulkefly said, in reference to the broader challenge of brain drain. In the past, the contract doctor issue had sparked protests, with junior doctors voicing frustration over job insecurity, a lack of benefits and limited access to specialist training opportunities under the current Contract of Service system. In the 2024 Budget, the government announced an increase in the number of permanent positions and allocations for housemen and medical officers, but critics said the implementation has been slow and uneven. Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry would work with stakeholders to ensure the transition is managed effectively and fairly. "We acknowledge the challenges and concerns raised. Our aim is to reform the system for the long term, not just patch the immediate gaps," he added. Yesterday, the MMA urged the government to take immediate action to prevent a worsening brain drain among domestic medical professionals. Among the suggestions proposed was for the ministry to do away with the contract system for new doctors and offer permanent positions in the government, fulfil the promise to increase on-call allowances, establish clear career pathways for specialisation, amend policies to allow more doctors to undergo specialist training and rectify the current disparity in regional incentive payments.
Borneo Post
22-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Education Dept's constant engagement sees Sarawak's primary school dropout rate dip to 4 in 2024
File photo for illustration purposes only. KUCHING (May 22): The Sarawak State Education Department's (JPNS) continuous engagement with pupils and parents has successfully lowered the primary school dropout rate. Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Francis Harden Hollis said active engagement activities have prevented children, particularly from poor families, from leaving school. 'Continuous engagements with the parents and students are being carried out by the JPNS. 'The dropout rate among poor families showed a declining trend from 19 pupils in 2022 to four pupils in 2024,' he said in response to a question from Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap at the State Legislative Assembly here today. Separately, he said a special recruitment exercise under the Contract of Service scheme was carried out in 2024 to address teacher shortages in Sarawak. Harden said the initiative was conducted in collaboration with the Education Service Commission, Ministry of Education, and JPNS. Under the scheme, both education and non-education graduates were hired. He said a dedicated committee is also monitoring teacher vacancies to ensure timely replacements as part of ongoing efforts to stabilise the teaching workforce across the state. In addition to tackling teacher shortages, he said the ministry is also prioritising the issue of dilapidated schools. 'Continuous efforts are being made to improve school facilities under the upgrading and rebuilding of dilapidated schools throughout Sarawak,' he said. dropout Francis Harden Hollis lead primary school
The Sun
23-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Call for govt to reconsider MySTEP employment scheme for price monitoring officers
KUALA TERENGGANU: The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS) is calling on the government to reconsider its plan to implement the MySTEP employment scheme for Price Monitoring Officers (PPH) under the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN). CUEPACS president Datuk Adnan Mat expressed strong opposition to the move, warning that the shift to the MySTEP scheme, which offers significantly lower wages than the current Contract for Service (CFS) arrangement, would severely impact the quality of life for these officers. 'Many of these price monitors have served for over 18 years and have demonstrated unwavering commitment throughout their careers,' he said. 'They've built their lives around the existing CFS pay structure, which includes financial responsibilities and obligations. Reassigning them to MySTEP would deliver a harsh economic and social blow to nearly 18,000 workers,' he said when asked at the Syawal Ceria MADANI Aidilfitri celebration hosted by CUEPACS here today. Adnan said that the MySTEP scheme removes many of the welfare benefits currently enjoyed by officers under the CFS system. 'They will lose a lot of benefits, including paid leave, medical coverage, and contributions to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and the Social Security Organisation (Socso),' he said. In light of this, Adnan said CUEPACS is urging the government to consider offering permanent positions to the officers or, at the very least, upgrading their status to the more secure Contract of Service (COS) scheme. 'These officers have served with dedication for nearly two decades, playing a vital role in ensuring price stability across the country. It is only fair that their contributions be recognised with better job security and career prospects. 'CUEPACS would also like to stress that any change to the employment status of these PPH will have to prioritise their wellbeing, including in terms of job security, salary increment, perks and benefits, as well as EPF and Socso coverage,' he added.
