Oxymoron In The Tropics

When I first became a teacher, it surprised many of my friends.  I suppose there were different reasons... I wasn't obvious teacher material when I was in school.  I was too much of  a class clown at times, too bookish to front a classroom at other times... but the one person who was most surprised was myself.  The only reason that mattered to me was how I viewed the teaching profession as a boring one.  And I was more easily bored than I should be.  I wanted to be a journalist with different assignments every time and never the same view to look at (so I supposed).  Unfortunately for me, the year I applied for a course in university was also the year major riots took place in my hometown and my mother was traumatised to see the reporters (and specifically one who was brother to my aunt) getting the best views in between the Federal Reserve Units and the rioters.  1986.. what a year.  Just a year earlier and I could have been a rep...

I am moving workplaces again :) Last Friday I received a letter calling me to a briefing for Form Six Academic Teacher placements.  My whole day perked up.  Would I finally be able to go back to school?  The word 'promotion' was also in the title so that made things a bit more shiny and bright and sparkling.  At this point, I am tempted to use the synonyms 'dazzling', 'gleaming', 'radiant', 'resplendent' and  'CORUSCATING' but that may be overkill. Anyway I went for the briefing last Monday and HOORAY I'M POSTED BACK TO SCHOOL! The strange thing was that after nearly three years at the PPD, I finally accepted my fate.  In December, I began planning for 2012.  I had BIG plans.  BIG programs.  All of a sudden, I have to abandon all those plans.  It's so ironic that the moment I stop hoping for something, it happens.  But perhaps there is a lesson for me to learn here :)   

Sigh, it's that time again.... of choices, dilemmas, adjustments and ANGST. Yesterday was a deadline for the Form Six Academic Teacher Post applicants to verify their data with the Unit Naik Pangkat (Promotions Unit?) of the Sabah Edu Dept. As I have already moved to the District Education Office, I had to contact my previous school to do the verification. The teachers were whispering about a possible appointment briefing in March or April. Hmmm, wonder what that would mean for me. A Senior Assistant friend of mine sat for an hour, unloading all her grief related to this promotional exercise. There were teachers who applied for posts in Phase One but didn't get any offer, while others who applied in Phase Two were given offers. So the aggrieved teachers were complaining to her, asking why how who what and whyyyyy ...( imagine sad eyes and upset hearts ). I think (my own personal opinion, okay??) that this may have happened because a number of teachers in Phase One turned ...

The first time news came of promotional posts for Form Six teachers was in December 2007.  That excited so many people... and then news came again of Master Teacher posts up for the taking.  In Sabah, anyway.  Promotional exercises came fast and furious and forms were being filled in by every teacher.  There were even cases of teachers filling in forms because they saw their friends filling in forms and they were afraid of being left behind.  I remember when I was a DG44 Senior Assistant ( Penolong Kanan ) in school and there was an opportunity to get a DG48 post as a Form Six Academic Teacher.  I waffled for two weeks and finally gave in to the fear of being left behind and FILLED IN THE FORM!  Like so many other of my compatriots.  And the result is... so many of my Senior Assistant friends are now stepping out of their administrative posts and taking up DG48 posts as Master Teachers or Form Six Academic Teachers.  Some are happy as they have been buckling under the stresses of a...

On the 22nd of June 2009, 105 teachers from Kota Kinabalu (including Penampang) will be sitting in KK HIgh School Auditorium, waiting to receive their letters and waiting to be given their briefing. On the same day, a few hundred others will be OUTSIDE said auditorium, feeling all kinds of emotions.  I foresee emotions such as disappointment, anger, despondency, envy. bafflement, jealousy, fury... distress. And afterwards, this turmoil will cause problems in school :P  No need for me to elaborate. The moral of the story : plan better next time before one implements something .

Been 'lost in PTK space' for the past three weeks... why oh why did I register myself for a repeat of the PTK? Must be those dollar signs in my eyes :) Yesterday one teacher hesitantly asked me about the Form Six promotions. Immune to all the questions, and also rushing to a PPSMI meeting and lugging my unfinished PTK essay under my arm, I just said,"Don't worry don't worry...the dept will organise it." Today, TWO approached me at different times. The first wanted to know when I would organise the next filling-in-forms session. Blur me just said...wait wait... The second teacher was more specific. He said,"Have you checked the MOE website in the last two days? The letter and forms are THERE." A light switched on in my head. I put the PTK essay, exam timetables, PMR madness etc etc... ALL OF IT aside... and checked the website. Since my last visit 2.5 days ago, there was one crucial update. IT'S TIME FOR FORM SIX TEACHERS' PROMOTION OP...