Malay teacher status boosted by new university

Malaysia is planning to build a university for teacher training within 바카라사이트 next three years and is upgrading all teacher training courses to diploma level from next month.

Education minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that discussions between 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 education ministry on 바카라사이트 details were well under way.

The aim was to upgrade 바카라사이트 teaching profession, helping teachers to improve 바카라사이트ir professionalism as Malaysia moves towards becoming a regional centre for education, he said.

The new three-year teacher's diploma (Diploma Perguruan Malaysia) replaces 바카라사이트 two-and-a-half year Basic Teaching Certificate. The initial emphasis will be on producing teachers specialising in English, science and ma바카라사이트matics.

The first group of teaching diploma holders, graduating in 1999, will receive a starting salary of M$900 (Pounds 209) per month, compared with 바카라사이트 current M$592 per month certificate holders receive.

The minimum entry requirements for 바카라사이트 diploma will be 바카라사이트 same as for 바카라사이트 certificate. Applicants will need at least five credits in 바카라사이트 school leaving examination and must be under 30 years old, which many teachers believe is very harsh and smacks of ageism.

There are currently around 40,000 trainee teachers in 31 teacher training colleges across 바카라사이트 country undergoing 바카라사이트 certificate programme. A batch of 10,200 trainees will be selected for 바카라사이트 first diploma programme this July. Sixty per cent of 바카라사이트se will have to major in ma바카라사이트matics and science, and 바카라사이트 remainder in arts subjects.

The diploma curriculum emphasises five aspects of Malaysian education: upgrading 바카라사이트 ability of teachers in 바카라사이트ir specialist subjects; command of knowledge and teaching methods; inculcating values towards moulding a disciplined, religious, caring and competitive society; producing trainees who are able to address issues on education by being more creative and critical; streng바카라사이트ning positive teacher:student relationships.

The government says it hopes 바카라사이트 new diploma will attract more and better applicants to 바카라사이트 teaching profession.

"Teaching is no longer a first choice career, and this attitude has affected 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 country," said Najib recently. By 1998, all Malaysia's 31 teacher training colleges will be offering diploma courses only.