Teachers should be given priority

One cannot deny the fact that the teaching service is an engine room and is a backbone of this developing nation. Teachers play a major role in the development of human resourses of this sovereign state.

Most importantly, they tirelessly manage to stand for almost the whole day in classroom just to teach in order to shape students to be intellectuals and elites of this country. Any yet they (teachers) have been underpaid, ignored and seen as less important in this country.

If they are not that important, why should there be urgent calls and concerns in the media over teachers going to LNG and other avenues for greener pastures. Parliamentarians can always hire highly-paid expatriates or tell their advisors and administrators to take over teaching post in this country.

Or else, I am afraid the future of this country is at stake if this trend (teacher’s shift) continuues as this is just the beginning. I call on the Government to take action this year to consider teachers’ needs (pay rise) as number one priority before it gets worse.

Ricky Olga,

Maip Wurup-Kaip