More Chinese and Tamil language teachers to be recruited from 2011

Malaysia, July 1 (ANI): Eyeing upon putting into operation the Pupils Own Language (POL) policy in around 7,000 primary schools nationwide, more Chinese and Tamil language teachers will be recruited from the next year.

This has been done to enhance the profile of national schools and cater to the wishes of the parents and the students wanting Chinese and Tamil to be taught in schools.

"I have directed the ministry director-general (Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom) to ensure that schools get the necessary teachers from next year onwards," the star quoted Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as saying in a question and answer session at the Perdana Leadership Foundation.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, was replying to a question on racial segregation by choice, in reference to non-Malay parents deciding upon sending their children to vernacular schools instead of the national variant.

Earlier on June 13, Muhyiddin spoke in favour of the POL as it fostered unity, besides catering to the expansion of knowledge.

Ministry sources said that only 511 primary schools had the essential teachers to teach either one, or both, of the languages to date.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had recently announced that the Government would allow qualified Unified Examination Certificate holders to enter the Institute of Teacher Education.

Muhyiddin had earlier spoken on "The Role of Education in Leadership Development" at the Perdana Discourse Series", asserting that there was no time to waste as Malaysia urgently needed to produce the right human capital that would drive the economy to the next level of development. (ANI)