Malaysia - Don’t panic over nine-hour work day, Wee tells teachers

ALOR SETAR: Teachers should not panic over the nine-hour work day pilot project which will be introduced in four states next year, says Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.

“The new system will begin in Pahang, Malacca, Johor and Sarawak in January.

“A decision on whether to introduce it to other states will only be made after the six-month trial period is over,” he said.

Dr Wee said teachers may have served longer working hours compared to what the public think.

Hence, the pilot project was important so that the real situation could be determined, he added.

“I hope that teachers will be patient and not think it is the ministry's final decision. The project is being carried out on a trial basis,” he said after launching the National Union of the Teaching Profession's building here yesterday.

Dr Wee advised teachers not to be unduly worried about the exercise.

“Some teachers might be worried as they feel that the nine-hour work day does not include teaching preparation and extra-curricular involvement.

“I feel these will be taken into account,” he said, adding that the findings would enable the ministry to determine if it should be expanded to other schools nationwide.

It was recently reported that some 5,000 teachers from 104 schools in the four states would take part in the pioneer project.

The nine-hour work day would be from 7.30am till 4.30pm for morning session teachers and 9.30am till 6.30pm for those teaching in the afternoon session, said NUTP secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng.

She said teachers were worried about having to work long hours.

“Teachers have many duties even after class ends.

“Responsibility should be delegated equally among all the teachers in a school,” Lok said.

EMBUN MAJID

embun@thestar.com.my

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