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Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said he wanted the issue
of a five-day week for teachers discussed and resolved in a rational manner.
<p>"The unions should not adopt a rigid stance and should realise that teaching
is not limited to a set time or a certain number of hours.</p>
<p>"I want teachers who are really committed and who, when required, won’t
be unwilling to teach on Saturdays," he said yesterday at his ministry’s
post-Cabinet briefing.</p>
<p>The five-day week was implemented for all civil servants except teachers on
July 1.</p>
<p>It has been reported that 14 teachers unions are firm in their stand that teachers
are also entitled to weekends off. This followed a roundtable discussion by
the unions last month, chaired by the National Union of the Teaching (NUTP).</p>
<p>The unions are meeting Education director-general Datuk Dr Ahamad Sipon in
Miri today to discuss the matter.</p>
<p>Hishammuddin said the possibility of a special allowance for teachers who had
to report for duty on Saturdays would also be discussed at the meeting.</p>
<p>NUTP secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng said there should be no double standard
in implementing the five-day week.</p>
<p>"Teachers are not calculative. We work hard, we are not clock watchers
and we even take work home," she said when contacted.</p>
<p>The implementation of a five-day week will affect many extra-curricular activities
now held on Saturdays. Many schools also use Saturdays to replace days off taken
for special occasions.</p>
<p>Dr Ahamad had announced earlier that teachers might have to continue working
on Saturdays next year if certain activities could not be conducted within the
five-day week.
Address: Wisma MTUC,10-5, Jalan USJ 9/5T, 47620 Subang Jaya,Selangor | Tel: 03-80242953 | Fax: 03-80243225 | Email: sgmtuc@gmail.com.com