I REMEMBER asking a friend's husband which of his children was going to follow his footsteps in making medicine a career choice. His reply was: "Getting good grades doesn't mean one will make a good doctor." I think he has a point.
Likewise, Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia top scorers will not necessarily make the best of teachers.
I feel there must be a method to screen candidates during the selection process. We should not rely on examination grades alone.
Those in charge of teacher training are better suited to weed out unsuitable candidates. Perhaps retired senior teachers and school heads can be roped in.
Having teachers sticking to a particular subject that they are trained in is a tall order in most cases.
The pressing issue is to get the right people for the job, that is, those with the aptitude to teach, a love of children and choice of subject.
If, halfway through the training, the candidates don't do well, it would be good to cut some slack and allow them to switch subjects.
Once the trainees are posted to schools, the senior teachers can help. With the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 preliminary report, we can expect better teachers and excellent pupils.
Maureen Anne Muthu, Sungai Petani, Kedah News Straits Times Letters to the Editor 23 November 2012
