Dato Sri Hisamuddin Tun Hussein Onn

BINTULU: Education Minister Dato Sri Hisamuddin Tun Hussein Onn said there were 4,726 school leavers with Form Five qualification being accepted to the teachers' training colleges this year. Replying Bintulu MP Dato Seri Tiong King Sing in the parliamentary sitting last week, he said these were among those picked from 108,94 applicants, adding that response to teaching post applications had always been overwhelming, and each year, more youngsters were applying.

He said only 13,128 were short-listed before they accepted the 4,000-plus applicants.

He said the Education Ministry was strict in processing the applications to ensure that only those committed in education and those really qualified were being picked.

On why some students with outstanding academic performances were not accepted, the Education Minister said applicants would have to go through tests, interviews, language written tests and others.

Among the criteria of their tests were a 50-percent mark in Mathematics, 40 percent in communication skills and 10 percent in outdoor activities.

Therefore, an applicant who might be excellent in academic performances but poor in communication skills, outdoor activities and others might not be accepted.

Tiong, who is also the chairman of the Back Benchers' Club, agreed with the strict scrutiny in moulding the best teachers in the country.

He hoped the ministry would keep up with their demand to ensure a high standard in teaching professionalism.