TAWAU, April 9 – The focus and attention given by Barisan Nasional (BN) government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on educational development and the general welfare of teachers and lecturers alike, have left them among those inspired and touched beyond words. According to the distinguished academician in Sabah, Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching(Pic), the general welfare of teachers had always been taken care of especially with the introduction of attractive incentives, including continuous career development opportunities and critical allowances for vocational, English, Mathematics and Science teachers.
“Besides, teachers also have a good chance of being promoted to the highest level possible without having to leave school or being posted to education offices or ministry,” she told Bernama here. She said promotion methods allocated only to teaching profession also comprised the time-based promotion and promotion for excellent principals or headmasters and promotion for excellent teachers.
“So, this clearly provides a clear justification that the BN government is a caring government because what truly matters is to ensure that the welfare of teachers is being well taken care of,” she said.
Mary Yap, the former excellent principal of Sekolah Menengah Teknik Tawau, said one of the proofs of BN government being a caring government was when it gave equal attention to mission schools and national-type schools.
“All these schools are included in the Malaysian Education Development Blueprint 2013-2025,” said the chairperson of Sarawak Council of Christian Mission Schools. Mary Yap, who once received the National Maulidur Rasul Award for her contribution in the field of education, also refuted allegations that the initiatives taken by the BN government were aimed at fishing for votes, saying that those initiatives were actually part of the government’s plans under the national budget.
She said the BN government did not take lightly the question of quality human capital for the future and had also taken various efforts to have a world-class education system.
This includes the efforts taken under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), which were introduced for the benefit of the people from all walks of life, she said.
“It’s clear that BN is a caring party. The people, especially those in the low-income group, will not receive this much attention if BN is not the ruling government in the country,” she said. She said other programmes implemented by the BN government that had benefited the people were free health examination, book voucher for students, first home scheme and the 1Malaysia people’s aid.
Mary Yap, who is also Sabah Women’s Advisory Council member, said the BN government had also implemented many economic and social programmes to help improve the standard of living and welfare of women, including single mothers and senior citizens. She was also confident that the BN government was on the right track to take the country towards becoming a fully developed nation and thus, achieve Vision 2020. However, she also stressed that the people must give undivided support for BN government and leaders in the 13th general election, so that they would continue bringing economic and political stability in the country.
BERNAMA
