Teachers prefer time-based promotion system be continued

The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has appealed to the Government to continue implementing the service scheme of special grade promotion according to the "time-based" system, involving 450,000 teachers nationwide.

NUTP President Hashim Adnan said, this was in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's announcement in the 2012 Budget last October which promised better career movement for educators through the Public Service New Renumeration System (SBPA).

"We are hoping the Prime Minister's announcement on improvements to SBPA on March 8 would take into consideration the matter (time-based system).

"Under the time-based system, when the time is right, a teacher could enjoy a promotion opportunity,' he said at Wisma KPPK, Tuesday.

Also present was NUTP Secretary-General Loke Yim Pheng.

He said a telegram on the matter was sent to the Prime Minister's Office, adding that there were about 30 per cent of the entire teaching group with grades DG32 and DG48, who were still waiting for promotion.

He said the promotion was seen as motivation to produce more quality teachers, besides increasing the national education quality.

At the same time, Hashim hoped the benefits enjoyed also involved retired teachers on or after the SBPA was implemented on Jan 1.

The time-based system was implemented 10 years ago, through the Renumeration System of Malaysia.

Under SBPA, according to the time-based method, a teacher would obtain grade 44 in his eighth year of service and grade 48 on the 16th year of service when in the earlier scheme, the teacher would have to wait for 20 years to get promotion.

A non-graduate teacher from grade 29 to 32 would need eight years compared to 10 years.