Although the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) dialogue with young teachers last night was supposed to be a platform for them to share their aspirations, some also took the opportunity to voice their grouses.

Several teachers who spoke from among over 400 participants during the programme with Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid, moderated by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, cited increased responsibilities shouldered by teachers.

A young teacher in particular said it went to the point that he became "so sick" of having to write multiple reports daily despite after only a year on the job.

"I just don't have the energy to do it anymore. I also don't know what my working hours are, as sometimes I have to work until evening," said the teacher during the programme at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in Kuala Lumpur.

His view was echoed by several others who admitted their administrative tasks were simply "too much".

Meanwhile, citing the latest incident in which an assistant warden at a school was suspected to have physically abused a student, leading to the latter's legs being amputated, a teacher at a school in Sabak Bernam, Selangor urged the Education Ministry to look into the welfare of teachers in the country.

"What about their fate, where's justice for them?

"I'm not saying they are not in the wrong, they may be wrong but the media slams us as though we are not doing our job," said the teacher.

Mahdzir then interrupted and asked for the teacher's aspirations 30 years from now.

"I don't want to change everything. I just want to see people become teachers not because they don't have a choice, but because they want to," said the Sabak Bernam teacher.

KJ's futuristic vision

A teacher from Labuan pointed out how teachers dread being posted to rural areas and this should change.

"I hope teachers will not be fearful to go to rural areas if the facilities are the same as schools in cities," he said.

Roslan Muda, a teacher from Terengganu, expressed hope that the number of students would be reduced per class, with another suggesting they be limited to 20 students per class.

"In my school where there is special learning, there are only 11 pupils in the class and the learning process is very smooth," he said.

Khairy however pointed out this would mean more schools have to be built to cater to this.

He later expressed his belief that artificial intelligence would assist teachers in administrative tasks in the future.

"And maybe, that time, 40 students (per class) is not many because the education system would have changed.

"We have to think of ways to use technology, rather than to build more schools," Khairy added.

No to primary level exams

Other aspirations the participants expressed were to instill in students elements of 'Bangsa Malaysia', to have the teaching of mathematics and science in English as well as removing the need for primary school students to be evaluated through examinations.

"Why must primary school students be evaluated?

"Primary schools should instead be a platform where I can categorise him or her (to their strengths), at least no student would fail," said one teacher.

Meanwhile, Mahdzir, saying he will take into account the views expressed last night, congratulated the teachers for having given "good views".

"Even though I look angry, but I actually like it (the feedback); even though you look quite emotional...

"Don't say that the ministry asked the director-general to take down your names, (there is) no such thing. This is TN50, there is no problem," he said, to applause from the audience.

At a press conference later, Khairy acknowledged a Sarawak teacher's request to have representatives of young teachers in the team of experts tasked to refine the recommendations for TN50.

"We will get one or two from the 1Malaysia Young Teachers' group to join this team of experts," promised Khairy.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's TN50 aims to bring about changes in governance, economy and education, among others.

He said it will chart the country's future course for the next 30 years after 2020.