KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry has instructed schools to set up teachers’ lounges to provide educators with an area to rest in between classes.
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said the current teachers’ rooms are for them to focus on work.
“Based on my visits to schools, there should be a dedicated area for teachers to rest in between classes or after classes, apart from the teachers’ rooms, which are for them to focus on work.
“The rest areas are a part of the ministry’s aspiration to create a happy, loving and respectful environment for the teachers. At it most basic, a teachers’ lounge can have a pantry, while other schools, which already have their own rest areas, equipped it with televisions.
“Having these dedicated rest areas would motivate the teachers and indirectly, increase the quality of their work. It is important as teachers are also people who needs to take a breather,” he told the media at the Parliament lobby.
He said schools would not be penalised if they fail to set up such lounges, but expressed confidence that schools would take up the initiative.
“We are adopting a softer approach because this is for the teachers’ enjoyment. I think even without the ministry’s instruction, the schools would set the areas in order to recognise the teachers’ hard work.
“I would like to also encourage the community, non-governmental organisation and former students to also participate in creating the rest areas for teachers in schools,” he said.
The move to establish teachers’ lounges was among the 12 initiatives presented by the ministry to improve schools last year.