KUCHING: The government aims to increase the percentage of local teachers in Sarawak to 90 percent in the next three years.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said currently, 81 percent of teachers in the state were locals.
"One of the issues plaguing the Education Ministry, even when I was the minister (1995-2000), was letters from teachers requesting for transfers to their home towns.
"I have given my commitment. This is to ensure that we create a stable pool of teachers," he said before the launch of a programme to distribute electronic tablets for teachers here.
The tablets are equipped with an E-Tutor system and would also include an e-Paper.
"I would like to thank the Education Ministry and the Communications and Multimedia Ministry for this initiative, to provide tablets for teachers in Sarawak.
"This initiative will be expanded throughout the country in stages," he added.
Also present were Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.