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Teachers in Malaysia are poor in the pocketbook, but rich in matters of the heart, where it matters most. Short on physical facilities, using tattered texts and basic science equipment, they bring feeling and enthusiasm to the classroom.
They receive the gratitude and love of their students and the parents, but not much from the minister of education or his deputy.
The prime minister has detailed his plans for meeting the future needs of the country. He has mentioned innovation and transparency. In an excellent article which appeared in the New Straits Times (Oct 7), Ramon Navaratnam addressed the main points of the PM's speech, describing the requirement for an environment "free of constraints on debate and discussion" which is required to achieve this goal.
The ministry of education apparently did not read either the PM's speech or Navaratnam's article. Both the education minister and his deputy are determined to eliminate from the ranks of the teaching profession all those who foster criticism of the "government".
Transfer is not enough it seems, the teachers are not daunted. "We send them to Sabah and Sarawak, and they cause trouble there," said Deputy Education Minister Aziz Shamsuddin.
"They are traitors. They are going to ruin the country," Shamsuddin said in a speech in Malacca. Such fierce determination in the administration of the education ministry is designed to generate a cringing fear. This approach, maintaining political control by intimidating the teachers, is clearly a failure, for a number of reasons.
One wonders why it is necessary to outline the requirements for innovation and creativity, as Navaratnam has done, to the leaders of the education ministry. It seems that there is a misunderstanding between the PM and the ministry of education. At the time of his selection it was thought that bringing in a professional educator, one from the ranks of academia, would provide the leadership necessary.
We must now sadly conclude that hopes for this were in vain. The deputy was a known quantity, and nothing is surprising there, but the minister himself is a genuine surprise and a great disappointment.
Pursuit of truth
The dedication and competence of the teachers is beyond question. The pursuit of truth and the desire to promote excellence are ingrained. There are no teachers who are afraid of a confrontation with the minister and his deputy. At a time when there is a shortage of teachers nationwide the bluster and bluff can be ignored. No teacher will be intimidated.
Should the threatened sackings take place the teachers will welcome this with relief, and find a more congenial place to pursue their career. The national schools of Malaysia will be the loser.
There is a shortage of trained and educated workers in many fields in Malaysia, which depends on a skilled workforce to attract foreign investment. When the foundations of the educational system are eroded from the top, the future, so far as e-commerce and the k-economy are concerned, are but meaningless words from some think-tank or speech writing civil servant. There must be a genuine desire that comes from those in authority.
The responsibility of those in authority is to provide morale. Where there is lack of understanding of this, and an inability to provide it, the authority is ill-chosen.
Malaysia is in a period of change. The daily irrational actions of the ministers and their appointees confirm that a tide of resolution and resistance in the people is building, and though it seems at a distance to be small, as it approaches it swells. When its true dimensions are fully appreciated, it is too late. All is swept before it. The ministers are those puny figures there on the beach, shovelling sand.