The deputy secretary-general of the National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP), S Sunderalingan, made an amazing statement that reveals how shallow and bankrupt the union is in its representation of the teachers.

He is quoted as having said, "Lack of promotion opportunities, fringe benefits and increasing workload are among factors which have made the teaching profession less attractive to non-Malay candidates." (NST, March 5, 2003)

Sunderalingam imputes that the non-Malays are mercenaries, greedy and lazy. Where did he get this idea from? Is it from some fantastic research he had conducted or is it something that was concocted like the integration issue for which his boss, N Siva Subramaniam, had to apologise to the prime minister later?

Having expounded his theory o­n why non-Malay candidates don't apply to become teachers, he goes o­n to suggest that the ministry should "consider giving free books to children of teachers, irrespective of their monthly income."

Now, what is the rational for this recommendation? Why should teachers' children alone be considered for free books. Is he suggesting that other citizens serving the nation in various capacities do not deserve this privilege? What is so special about the teachers? Don't they get paid for doing their job just like everybody else?

Teaching is no longer attractive because meritocracy is not practised. The deserving don't get rewarded and the cronies get the plums! I was a teacher and I know what is going o­n. You slog and slave as a conscientious teacher but the headmaster's crony is recommended for better increments and promotions. Sunderalingam cannot pretend not to know this. There are many

teachers o­nly counting their days to retire and say goodbye to the system.