Listen Mr. Education Minister, sir!

Just now, the despicable TV... aired the NUTP's disappointment and hope to the Education Minister and his Ministry to not only listen but be more proactive in solving the issues concerning teachers and not just listen, take some notes and later on discard the notes into the bin. Indeed, among his statements was that NUTP is being blamed for all the inaction of the Ministry.

It is mind boggling to see that the Ministry tries very hard to improve and upgrade the nation education system but fails to consult the backbones i.e the implementers of such plans. They think they are good enough or intelligent enough to leapfrog the teachers who later will be the ones who will do the works. Looking at other civil servants, teachers are among those who are placed at the lower rung, at least in terms of career advancement and welfare. Other civil servant will be considered for promotion if they possess higher qualification but for teachers it is not the case. That is why we have diploma holders as headmasters in primary schools while at the same time we have degree holders serving under them.

Few months ago servicemen like the police and the army got their 45%salary increment but teachers with degree only receive about 15% compared to those without degree. Such are only a few of the injustice and unfairness to teachers. Most suffer in silence as when they speak up it is considered as insubordination or mutiny against the higher ups. In fact, there's the convention that teachers are 'forced' to vote for the ruling coalition and I stress here the ruling coalition. This is done through the so called 'Amanat Pengarah', where teachers through the school administrator are told to vote for them. Majority of the teachers are dong their job well and they do this out of responsibility towards the people who are paying them not the ruling coalition.

We should be confused by equating the government and the party. It is clear that civil servants and the public administration are to be neutral and thus no matter what or which or who win the election, civil servants should be immune to any political doctrine at least in their day to day conduct of their jobs. The people have voiced out their displeasure against the misconduct of the party controlling the government including the disgruntled but still dedicated teachers thus it is incumbent upon the Ministry to start to listen to the grouses and act accordingly instead of listen and discard attitude which have been happening for so long. Just because you are the leader of one influential wing in the coalition and because you are the son of a former Prime Minister or that your cousin is the DPM, these aren't the tickets for you to sideline and ignore the grouses of your subordinates. Your PIPP runs smoothly because of the dedication of the teachers whom you have ignored for so long. At least be like your cousin who are doing his best to please his charges by giving one after another perks to keep them pleased and happy unlike you!

"Even the Almighty listens to His creations!"