The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) today voiced its discontentment on a school in Johor which forced its Grade 44 teachers to contribute RM50 into the school fund each year.

Its president, Hashim Adnan, said a representative of the teachers from the school in Batu Pahat, Johor filed a report with the union last Wednesday stating the school’s management issued the directive to 50 teachers after they were promoted following many years of service.

“There was no clear explanation as to what the collection was for and it only affected those in this specific grade,” he said at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Hashim said any collection by the school, either involving teachers or parents, needed to follow the proper procedure and obtain approval from the Education Ministry.

“Any collection of funds must be agreed to by all parties involved and the school must issue a detailed statement on what the money will be used for,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hashim also raised complaints from teachers of a school in Senai, Johor who were required to arrive for work 15 minutes before 7am, whereby teachers in other schools were normally required to be at work at 7.40am or 7.50am.

“These teachers need to leave their home much earlier to send their children to school or a minder and then rush to work,” he added.

He said the situation indirectly stressed the teachers and affected their efficiency in the classroom.

- Bernama