JOHOR BARU: The Education Ministry is taking disciplinary action against an education supervisor in Johor for not distributing application forms to temporary teachers to enrol in teachers' training colleges.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the supervisor had gone against the ministry's efforts to provide sufficient teachers for vernacular schools, a problem which has been plaguing Chinese schools for years.

"We plan to sack him. He is nothing more than a small Napoleon trying to make things difficult for the ministry.

"Sad to say, there are people at the lower level who disregard our efforts but act on their own.
"This supervisor was supposed to help distribute the forms to those interested in the teachers' training colleges, but he hid all the forms.

"Many applicants are worried and some have turned to me for help.

"I received a letter from one who is qualified and has the passion to teach, but was turned down repeatedly.

"She gave up hope, but I asked her to stay on and will handle her case personally."

Wee was speaking after witnessing the ground-breaking ceremony of SRJK Thai Hong at Taman Impian Emas here yesterday.

According to him, Johor is the state where the ministry received the most number of complaints from temporary teachers.

It is not known why the supervisor resorted to this, but it is believed he is trying to politicise the matter by choosing the people he likes for the teachers' training colleges.

Wee said it was not easy to get teachers in the south as those who were qualified and got tired of the red tape eventually crossed over to Singapore to seek greener pastures.

"Our drastic action against the supervisor is to serve as a deterrent to others.

"I mean business and that's why we plan to take action against him.

"I would like to remind others not to repeat the same mistake.

"If they have problems, refer to me directly.

"Let's work together to improve the country's education system and not go against government policy like this small Napoleon."