Latest news with #Kafa
New Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Penang increases monthly allowance for Kafa teachers starting July
GEORGE TOWN: Quran and Fardhu Ain (Kafa) class teachers in Penang will receive a monthly allowance increase of RM200 from July, bringing their total monthly allowance to RM1,500. Deputy Chief Minister I, Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid, said Kafa headteachers will receive a higher allowance of RM1,600 compared to RM1,350 previously, marking a RM250 increment. "During last year's state legislative assembly sitting, I announced that a comprehensive review was being carried out to strengthen Kafa education in Penang. "This demonstrates the concern shown by the Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) and the state government for the welfare of Kafa educators. "To appreciate Kafa teachers in Penang, I am pleased to share two announcements: the increase in allowance, and a special maternity assistance for female Kafa teachers appointed on or after January 1 this year, who are eligible for RM1,100 per month for two months during their maternity leave," he said in a Facebook post. In addition, RM150,000 has been allocated to enhance training programmes for Kafa teachers in the state. Mohamad, who is also MAINPP president, said these new measures will result in an additional financial commitment of RM4.2 million annually, raising the total Kafa allocation to RM8.5 million per year. He also announced that all Kafa premises in Penang will return to a standardised five-day operational schedule starting July 1, a practice that had been halted for several years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the education sector, he said MAINPP is increasing its education budget to RM35 million for 2024 and 2025, including introducing new scholarship allocations for Polytechnic and Form Six students. "Last month, MAINPP also allocated RM6.5 million to distribute 8,740 tablet devices to 263 primary and secondary schools. "This supports the goal of digitalising education and aims to bridge the digital divide among students by 2030," he added.
Borneo Post
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
DPM Zahid: Allow teachers to return to primary role as educators by overhauling workload
Ahmad Zahid delivers his speech at the event. – Photo by Mohd Faisal Ahmad KUCHING (May 16): The workload of teachers must undergo a comprehensive overhaul to enable them to return to their primary role as educators, said Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The Deputy Prime Minister cited this as among five key directions to rebuild Malaysia's education ecosystem. 'Teachers must be return to their original roles. Use artificial intelligence (AI) and automation wisely to minimise routine tasks and optimise teachers' precious time with their students,' Ahmad Zahid said in his keynote address at the National Teachers' Day 2025 celebration here today. He emphasised that meaningful education reform must be grounded in a long-term vision and guided by teachers. 'The national education direction must be constantly refreshed. We cannot be content with current achievements. The education system must continue to evolve to ensure that every Malaysian child receives an education that is relevant, balanced, and meaningful. 'The government is committed to driving change that is not merely reactive, but anchored in a long-term vision. We are taking strategic steps, building the ecosystem, and implementing plans to ensure our education future remains resilient in the face of changing times,' he said. He stressed that priority must be given to ensure inclusive and equitable change. With a record RM64.1 billion allocated under Budget 2025 — the highest in Malaysia's history — he pointed out the funding must not remain as figures on paper but must reach the schools, teachers, and students who need it most. He highlighted the importance of safeguarding the welfare of all educators, including those often overlooked such as Kafa (Al-Quran and Fardhu Ain Class) teachers, tahfiz instructors, educators with disabilities, and special education teachers. These groups frequently go beyond their basic duties yet are too often left out of recognition and support systems, he said. He also called for digital transformation to be accelerated in a fair and balanced manner. The Deputy Prime Minister said digital literacy among both teachers and students must be strengthened, and all teachers should be equipped to integrate technology in their teaching, while students must be guided to become ethical and proficient digital users. He stressed it is also vital to establish a meaningful and sustained recognition system for teachers, which should not be limited to ceremonial events such as Teachers' Day, but built into the public service system. Teachers in rural areas, special needs educators, and those who develop their own innovative teaching materials deserve acknowledgement and reward for their contributions, he said. 'I want to see more teachers like Cikgu Sydney Engelbert from Keningau, who brought pride to Malaysia by winning the 2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award. 'I want more teachers like Cikgu Nazmi, a finalist of the Global Teacher Prize. More like Nurhayatul, recipient of the Asia Education Award, and Cikgu Siti Zaitun Khazali, who teaches special needs children to read the Quran — let their struggles not be in vain, let them not remain unheard on the margins of the system,' he added. ahmad zahid hamidi lead teacher workload
