| Danial Norjidi |
THE topic of career pathways for local contract teachers was discussed during the afternoon session of the 15th Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting yesterday.
LegCo member and Penghulu of Mukim Bokok Yang Berhormat Haji Emran bin Haji Sabtu asked whether the Ministry of Education (MoE) has any plans to have local contract teachers be made into permanent teachers or if it has any other initiatives on offer to retain them to serve and work in the ministry.
In response, Minister of Education Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman said, “Since the first intake of local teachers contracted in 2018 and the second intake in 2019, Alhamdulillah 200 English and Mathematics teachers have been placed in government secondary and primary schools across the country.”
“During their placement in schools, these local contract teachers have followed continuous professional development to improve the quality of teaching and learning as well as their professionalism as educators.”
The minister highlighted that in order to ensure that teachers’ quality is at a high level, the MoE has implemented a more detailed and comprehensive process for selection and recruitment of local contract teachers to ensure that the selected teachers not only have the qualifications but are also genuinely interested in being teachers.
He said that local contract teachers will be assessed through the Teacher Performance Appraisal (TPA).
“Only local contract teachers who meet the required level of TPA assessment will be considered for posts as teachers in the MoE,” he added
He then proceeded to share the career pathways for those who have reached this level.
For local contract teachers who have a teaching qualification or initial teaching programme, they will fill available established posts. In the meantime, the MoE also encourages local contract teachers to currently have a teaching qualification to apply for the positions advertised, even during the contract period, subject to the terms of the post.
Meanwhile, to provide alternative routes for local contract teachers who do not have the teaching qualifications or the initial teaching programme, the MoE will enable them to apply for a Masters of Teaching programme at Universiti Brunei Darussalam to obtain the certificate or qualification, added the minister.