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Degree setback upsets grad teachers

tirumisu — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 15:23:12 +0800

Degree setback upsets grad teachers

By SYED AZHAR

PETALING JAYA: Graduates teachers who studied overseas are claiming that the Education Ministry has short-changed them in terms of salary and recognition of their qualification.

Slightly more than a hundred teachers, who are caught in this predicament, have been suffering in silence for over a decade as their honours degrees have been downgraded to the level of a general degree.

One teacher, who declined to be named, said she had an honours degree from an American university, and was surprised that her degree was treated as a general degree.

"Even my salary is the same as that of a general degree holder. I am not looking down on my peers, but I want what is due to me.

"I am also getting at least RM200 less than local degree holders. What is the purpose of sending Malaysians overseas for studies when local degree holders get better treatment? I cannot understand why this is happening," she said.

Another teacher in Selangor, who also declined to be named, said she was also in the same predicament. She, too, graduated from an American university, with an honours degree in computer science.

"I was told that the ministry would only recognise overseas honours degrees if the holder had more than a 2.75 cumulative grade points average (CGPA).

"I only obtained a 2.6," she said.

The 10-year veteran said due recognition should be given to overseas graduates and that they should be paid arrears.

She also said that her colleagues, who graduated with honours degrees from Australia and New Zealand sponsored by the Public Services Department, were forced to settle their study loans.

"I feel this is unfair and is discriminatory. If this goes on the ministry would be at the losing end as many would opt to leave for the private sector," she added.

National Union of Teaching Profession secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng said the union was aware of the situation.

"There are only a handful of teachers affected. If they feel short-changed they can always complain to the union, the Public Services Department or Education Services Commission.

"The union has written to both these entities and their reply was that they were only following the regulations," she said.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=...4044&sec=nation

Should foreign grads deserve such treatment?

tirumisu — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 01:47:25 +0800

Dear friends especially those who have experienced difficulty in finding for jobs locally after graduating with top results from foreign universities.

Have you any difficulty in securing jobs in MNCs or even encounter situations whereby even if you managed to secure a job, your starting salary will be less compared to a local graduate?

Is this practice fair and what are your thoughts on this?

We are afterall still Malaysians who are willing to come back and serve our country so why give us so much of hardships?Our government complains of brain drain yet they give us so much of headaches.

Why?
I am having troubles finding jobs lately despite having a first class bachelor degree from a reknowned foreign university.I am not even demanding when it comes to suggesting my expected salary as I am aware that I'm a freshie yet why do local employers turn me down?

Anyone willing to share your experiences on this issue or even comment on it?
Oversea companies are offering me jobs which have at least 2-3X higher pay than what I demanded from the local companies but I chose to return to Malaysia to be closer to my family.Am I being stupid to forgo such opportunities?Should i look elsewhere and leave Malaysia for good?I am so sad today because of this.

IM Wireless Broadband Service

tirumisu — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 21:31:22 +0800

Anyone saw this news at InTech recently?

The device used is like some WIFI card inserted into your notebook.Available at the KL,PJ and Shah Alam at the moment.Claims to go upto 512kbps.

RM75 for 512/128 Service.

http://www.im.net.my/index.htm