In a recent interview, National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng talks about the trials and tribulations that besiege the teaching profession.

Malaysiakini: Recently teachers sent a proposal to the Education Ministry asking for an overhaul of the education system. Is the situation really that bad? What prompted this?

Lok Yim Pheng : Looking at the situation in schools, we see why teachers write to the ministry voicing grievances. In fact, I just got a call from a teacher who's unhappy over certain things.

The biggest problem teachers face is the heavy workload. Teachers are very unhappy and stressed when working in an environment where - besides their core business of teaching - they have more duties such as clerical work while running and attending ad-hoc programmes.