PADANG TERAP: School teachers serving under the Education Ministry may soon be required to undergo a medical check up by age 40.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the proposal to make medical checkups a requirement by age 40 was part of the ministry's effort to ensure that those serving under the ministry are in good health.
"In the current procedure, teachers are only required to do medical check ups when they are first appointed to the position and upon promotion. During the period from the time they were appointed up until they are promoted, medical check ups are only done based on their own awareness.
"I believe that we should make it a requirement for the teachers to undergo medical check ups by age 40, as this is usually the age when our health begins to deteriorate, with a higher chance of suffering various illnesses.
"This is our proposal and it has already been forwarded by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam to the cabinet committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi," he said.
Mahdzir was speaking to reporters during a breaking of fast event involving department chiefs, principals, headmasters and division committee members at the Padang Terap District Education Office here yesterday (June 22).
Mahdzir added that there are currently over 400,000 teachers nationwide, with some suffering from various health problems and illnesses, including high cholesterol level, diabetes and cancer.
Mahdzir said that the ministry will also be looking into the enforcement on the directive on the types of food provided to school children through school canteens and outside vendors.
"We have already issued a directive and guideline on the matter. We just need to look into the enforcement effort conducted in the schools.
"This is important as it (the food provided) would have a long term effect on the students. We do not want the students to have the same menu, such as sausages and nuggets being served to them daily.
"We need to look into the matter thoroughly," said Mahdzir.
Meanwhile, commenting on the history assignment of the Form Three Assessment (PT3) in which the students are required to get verification from the National Heritage Department, Mahdzir said that he will look into the matter before making any decision.
"I will look into the matter, which was raised by the the National Parent-Teacher Association Consultative Council (PIBGN), as I have not received a full briefing on the matter from the Malaysian Examination Board (LPM).
"This also includes the schedule for the history research, which was set on the first weekend after the school holidays.
"I will look into it whether it should be done that way," he said.