KUCHING: The Education Ministry feels there is a basis for a review of the entry-point grades of school heads in national primary schools throughout the country which has been described as “stuck at the old level”.
Its director-general Datuk Dr Amin Senin said he intended to see the grades of the post moved from grade DG34 to grade DG48.
“It is time for us to review the entry-point grades of school heads and upgrade it in line with previous efforts to make teaching posts in primary schools to be on par with graduate teachers.
“So, for now, the logical move is to increase the grade of school heads even though there are some who are in the DG48 grade on a ‘time based – personal to holder’,” he said.
Amin was speaking at the launch of the 25th National Education Convention and 37th National Delegates Conference of the Malaysian Headmasters Council (GMGBM) 2019.
At present, teachers who are appointed to the post of school heads in primary schools will remain in the entry-point grade of DG34 and only given an allowance of RM200 while the senior assistant will remain in grade DG32 and given an allowance of RM60 a month.
On the other hand, teachers in secondary schools who are appointed as heads will move from DG48 to DG52, and given an allowance of RM300 a month while the senior assistant will move from DG44 to DG48.
Speaking to reporters after the event, Amin said the matter was still being discussed and a working paper had been drawn up and discussed at the Cabinet meeting.
“It would not only for school heads but also other posts,” he said.
Asked about the withdrawn allocation of RM1 bln by the federal government to improve the poor conditions of schools in Sarawak earlier, he did not want to comment further as it might create confusion to everyone especially between two parties of the federal and state government.
Earlier in his speech at the event, Amin said his ministry would always help schools in Malaysia to provide basic needs such as transportation for students to get involved in any curriculum activities, especially involving long distances.
“Last week, we received an incident that happened in Kota Tinggi, Johor which involved a teacher (injured) and three students that were killed in an accident on their way back from a petanque tournament.
“We at the Ministry of Education will not let this matter stop there and just like that, the ministry will make sure that this matter will be settled, and all process will follow standard operating procedure,” he added.
Amin also stressed that “education in Malaysia has the quality and we then need to be very independent, for what we need to follow other country if we can have the same quality as other country…the educator itself could change the quality of education.”
Meanwhile, Gabungan Majlis Guru Besar Malaysia president Rustam Affandy Abdul Aziz said it was believed that the headmasters in primary schools had shown their efforts in giving the best quality education since primary school.
“And therefore, I believe as an appreciation there is no harm and they are qualified for in-service grade promotion,” he said.
The convention was attended by 822 headmasters of primary schools around Malaysia and directors of education with a theme “Guru Besar Peneraju Pendidikan Berkualiti Melalui Budaya Sejahtera Dan Harmoni”, which started yesterday and will end on Friday.
