Jangan tunggu keadaan parah, NUTP gesa nilai guru bermasalah mental

The Malaysian Education Ministry (KPM) must establish a special panel to assess teachers who suffer from serious and long-term health issues before determining whether they remain suitable for teaching, require treatment and recovery time, return to work with specific adaptations or be reassigned to other duties. Fouzi Singon, Secretary-General of the National Union of Public Service Teachers (NUTP), emphasized that such an assessment is crucial in determining appropriate actions, whether a teacher can continue teaching, requires treatment and time off, return to work with adaptations or be transferred to other tasks.

"We cannot allow the system to wait until a situation becomes more serious before taking action," he told FMT. Fouzi stressed that the move is not intended to penalize or discriminate against teachers facing health issues, but rather to ensure they receive appropriate care and protection without neglecting students' needs. "We want a more humane, professional, and timely system.

Teachers with health issues receive care and protection, while students receive the right to receive education." Recent data showed that 55,169 public servants who underwent the MyPsyD health profiling system were categorized as high-risk in mental health issues, including suicidal tendencies. On September 21, Deputy Director-General of Public Service Development (Implementation), Dr. Mohd Bakhari Ismail, stated that this number highlights the importance of strengthening the psychological well-being of public servants comprehensively.

Meanwhile, a union member, who declined to be named, attributed the pressure in the public sector to shortages in manpower, facilities, and equipment, in addition to the demands of achieving key performance indicators (KPIs). He stated that this situation forces some staff to use their own money to meet basic needs at work. "When equipment is insufficient, sometimes staff have to spend their own money to buy necessities.

Low salaries, but they have to pay out of pocket. Such issues exist and can ultimately cause stress," he said. Fouzi noted that the pressure is also felt by junior staff and health workers due to shortages in manpower and the demands of high tasks. He added that changes in standards, work systems, and technology, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI), also challenge some public servants, especially those who find it difficult to adapt to new systems.

He emphasized that in some cases, teachers who suffer from serious health issues can go through the exit process after assessment if necessary. "This step is important so that long-serving staff who then face health issues are not forced to continue performing tasks that cannot be carried out," he said.