KLANG, 26 May 2009: The shortage of male teachers is one of the biggest challenges faced by the Education Ministry, said its deputy minister, Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.
At present female trainees make up three-quarter of the yearly intake.
“However, most of the teachers posted to the rural areas are male. As such we need to take in more male trainees,” he told reporters after the Teachers’ Day celebration at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Udang here last night.
Mohd Puad said the ministry is looking into ways to increase the male trainee intake.
In the meantime, one solution the deputy ministry is proposing to is to compel teachers to serve in rural areas for a certain number of years.
“This would deter them from applying for a transfer after only six months as well as to avoid teachers from being stationed for too long in the rural areas.
“I am aware of the problems faced by teachers working in the rural areas. I had come across a female teacher climbing a tree to get a better reception on her mobile phone to speak to her husband.
“A teacher in Marudi, Sarawak had given birth in a boat while on the way to a hospital,” said Mohd Puad. — Bernama
