Faster promotions under new scheme, says bumi teachers union

KUCHING: The new Civil Service Remuneration Scheme (SBPA) announced in Budget 2012 is a boost to teachers by providing time-based promotions and other incentives.
Sarawak Bumiputra Teachers Union (KGBS) president Ahmad Malie said promotions would be faster under the new scheme, taking eight years instead of 10 under a time-based system.
Other incentives, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, include annual salary increments between RM80 and RM230 according to grade, an annual increment of 7%-13% for civil servants who opt for the SBPA, raising the retirement age to 60 and a half-month bonus for civil servants.
“We are confident that these incentives will stimulate and motivate teachers in carrying out their duties besides helping the Government to achieve its aim of national transformation,” Ahmad said in a statement yesterday.
However, he said the time-based promotion scheme was still vague and needed more clarification.
“We would like this matter to be fine-tuned by the Education Ministry together with teachers unions so that no teacher will be left out from enjoying these incentives,” he said.
Ahmad also welcomed the announcement on tuition fee assistance for civil servants, including teachers, to further their studies at degree, Masters and doctorate levels.
He said this would enable them to improve themselves in line with the Government’s aim of producing a knowledgeable and highly-skilled civil service.
In addition, he noted that education was given the biggest allocation of RM50.2bil in the Budget, including RM1.9bil for all schools and RM1bil in a special fund for the construction, improvement and maintenance of schools.
“We urge the allocation to be channelled to schools which need them most, including those in Sarawak,” he said.
On the abolishment of payments for co-curriculum, internal test papers, Malaysian Schools Sports Council and insurance premium, making primary and secondary education free, Ahmad said this was good news for parents as it would help to lessen their financial burden.
However, he hoped parents understood which payments were being abolished so as not to cause confusion.
“This doesn’t include exercise books, stationery and other equipment which parents still have to pay for. Nevertheless, the Government is sensitive to this and is providing a one-off assistance of RM100 to all students from Year One to Form Five.
“We advise parents to use this assistance wisely to provide their children’s schooling needs,” he said.

source:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/9/sarawak/9662741&sec=sarawak