TEACHERS in the 1960s and 1970s were compliant to directives and their superiors.
The head teachers wielded much power and authority, and few teachers were bold enough to challenge or go against them.
The education officers in the district offices and state departments, too, wielded much power and authority over teachers. When these officers made visits to schools, the teachers would run helter skelter to get things in order.
Those teachers were obedient and subservient to directives from the head teacher or from the education department.
Today, there are some teachers who are bold and challenge the authorities.
Though their numbers are small, they are rebellious and question every directive and order from their superiors in schools.
Today, most teachers are degree holders; it gives them added boost and confidence to go against the authorities.
Head teachers and education department officers today are more humane and exercise much restraint when dealing with teachers who are recalcitrant.
But this has given the rebellious teachers the misconception that they can challenge the authorities; some of them have threatened to or taken legal action against the Education Ministry.
When these teachers defy orders from the authorities, it is undue stress for head teachers and education officers.
For instance, there are cases of teachers who refuse to heed transfer orders and stay put in the old school.
What is the standard operating procedure (SOP) for teachers in such cases?
Hopefully, the ministry and the state education departments have SOPs to deal with the problem.
The state education department has the prerogative to transfer teachers even if the teachers
have not requested to be transferred out.
When there are too many teachers in a school or when there is a need for a particular subject teacher in another school, then the teacher can be transferred out.
Normally, such transfers are done within the district, sometimes to
a neighbouring school in the vicinity.
When teachers are given transfer letters, they have to abide by the directive and report to the new school as stated in the letter.
Staying put in the old school and not reporting to the new school is tantamount to not following orders.
Teachers who have been posted out of the school have no business in the school and should not be in that school.
When they continue to make their presence in the school, they can be considered as trespassers and should not be allowed in.
Generally, teachers who refuse to follow orders have psychological problems and they should be referred to the psychiatrists for action.
A teacher’s insubordination can have negative repercussions. Insubordination is a serious offence in government service because all government servants are under the follow orders (menurut perintah) allegiance.
At a time when it is difficult to get jobs and in view of the increasing cost of living, all civil servants should count their blessings that they have a job that will put food on the table.
n Samuel Yesuiah, Seremban, Negri Sembilan