MELAKA: Teachers will soon have an opportunity to rest their minds through the Affordable Holiday Programme for Teachers, or 'Program Cuti-Cuti Cikgu Mampu Milik'.
This was among 10 initiatives announced by the Education Ministry today to strengthen the welfare of the educators in this country.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the affordable holiday programme would be implemented by providing special packages to teachers, thanks to strategic partners.
She said the move was also to boost teachers' morale and was a gift to them for Teacher's Day this year.
She said the second initiative was an improvement to the Circular Letter No 5/2002 regarding school visits on school days.
The third initiative is the expansion of the Comprehensive Special Model School Year 9 (K9) initiative with an additional 10 schools to address the issue of dropouts among students, especially in rural and Orang Asli areas.
The fourth initiative is the expansion of Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih (SBJK) to Sabah.
"Another initiative involves the ministry and Education Service Commission (ESC) to strengthen the management of recruiting education service officers," said Fadhlina during the 52nd National Teacher's Day celebration at the Melaka International Trade Centre in Ayer Keroh here today.
The event was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and included Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
Fadhlina said the sixth initiative was to give leeway in the wearing of the ministry's official corporate clothes while on duty; while the seventh initiative was the ceasing of donations for Teachers' Day.
The eighth initiative revolves around efforts to enhance the role of 'Kumpulan Guru Insani Malaysia' and the Tun Hussein Onn Teachers Foundation to improve professionalism among teachers.
The ninth initiative is to maintain the welfare of teachers.
She said the last initiative was to help to reduce the cost of living for teachers, while boosting the country's economy and improving the people's welfare.