The Conversion

I’m mad. I’m sad. Is this the best short term solution for them? By forcing us (me) to attend the conversion course?

On 4th August I received fax from Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia (KPM). I believed few others from our group received it. It stated that I have to attend the conversion course at Sungai Petani starting 7th August. The next day, another fax came. My name had been transferred to English Language Training Centre (ELTC), KL. I must register on 8th August.

When the first letter arrived, my Headmistress (HM) called me. She showed me the letter. After reading it, I told her I don’t want to go. I stated few reasons. I’m science options and I prefer it because I like teaching science. With my option I can teach both science and English. I’m KPLI teacher. We don’t have minor but elective. English and PJ are my electives. Few years ago I had called JPWP (Jabatan Pendidikan Wilayah Persekutuan) and asked them about these electives. They told me if I teach English for more than 3 years, the elective can be considered as minor. My HM supported my decision. She called KPM and they accepted my reason.

Another fax came this morning, 13th August. It stated that many teachers didn’t register and I must register for the course no later than 15th August. The person who doesn’t register will face action (tindakan tata tertib) from KPM. My HM already called KPM when she called me. She told that KPM asked some proof that English is my elective. That is the problem. There is no proof. They didn’t write it in our result transcript or my certificate. My HM faxes my transcript and highlighted the English subject that I took hopefully enough to convince them about my elective. Now I’m waiting for their reply.

I believe the test that we took on our second cohort was used to determine the candidate for this course. It is not fair since we can’t reject it. They should open the course to anybody who wants it. If I know this from the beginning, I wouldn’t do my best in that test.

Why did I choose not to go? The first two reasons I already stated above. The other reasons are my wife will give birth to our second child in the first week of November. I want to be there when the time comes. It would take nearly 5 hours traveling from KL to my hometown. I’m teaching English for year 6. Although I still need to improve my English, the class that I teach is the weak class. I want to be with them until the end. This is my second time teaching year 6 so I want to do my best and see my result in teaching them.

Is this is the best solution for them to increase the number of English teachers? They neglected our right to make choices. Probably they will create English teachers who don’t want to be an English teacher. They can report to their superior about the increase in quantity but how about the quality? Then can tell the public that they have successfully overcome the shortness of English teacher but will they tell them how they do it? Sadly the person in charge can’t be contacted since 6th August. Probably she doesn’t” want to listen to all the protest from others.

MAZRIL