THE directive from the Penang Education Department not to compel teachers to attend official functions organised by the state government may be a good idea as many such functions are a waste of precious time.
All too often teachers are taken away from their classrooms to attend functions that are not relevant to their duties. Such valuable time could be better spent in the classroom with their students. However, the decision to grant such an option to teachers because the state is no longer under Barisan Nasional rule lacks professionalism and understanding of our democratic system. It is important to remember that teachers, as civil servants, serve the public and the government. The government is elected by the people. Therefore, civil servants must respect and take orders that are legitimate from state government officials regardless of the political party that forms it.
Civil servants themselves should be non-partisan. After being subjected to 50 years of rule by a single party it may be difficult to accept a sudden change in the administration, and the emergence of "Little Napoleons", who are reluctant to adopt changes, will be inevitable. The new administration should be patient and try to win over the trust and confidence of civil servants before embarking on radical changes, especially controversial ones. The changes they undertake should be seen to benefit the people in general and not as a means to run down the previous administration. If done with care and caution, it would be possible to change the mindset of the civil servants and develop a clear partition between a political party and the government. The people have spoken and the verdict must be accepted by all, including civil servants. They must change to adapt to working with the new government which is elected by the people. Politicians come and go but the government with its various ministries and departments should remain non-partisan, committed to serve in accordance with the laws of the state, irrespective of which party rules it. In the final analysis, the system that is in place should benefit not the party or the government but the people who are the real masters.
All too often teachers are taken away from their classrooms to attend functions that are not relevant to their duties. Such valuable time could be better spent in the classroom with their students. However, the decision to grant such an option to teachers because the state is no longer under Barisan Nasional rule lacks professionalism and understanding of our democratic system. It is important to remember that teachers, as civil servants, serve the public and the government. The government is elected by the people. Therefore, civil servants must respect and take orders that are legitimate from state government officials regardless of the political party that forms it.
Civil servants themselves should be non-partisan. After being subjected to 50 years of rule by a single party it may be difficult to accept a sudden change in the administration, and the emergence of "Little Napoleons", who are reluctant to adopt changes, will be inevitable. The new administration should be patient and try to win over the trust and confidence of civil servants before embarking on radical changes, especially controversial ones. The changes they undertake should be seen to benefit the people in general and not as a means to run down the previous administration. If done with care and caution, it would be possible to change the mindset of the civil servants and develop a clear partition between a political party and the government. The people have spoken and the verdict must be accepted by all, including civil servants. They must change to adapt to working with the new government which is elected by the people. Politicians come and go but the government with its various ministries and departments should remain non-partisan, committed to serve in accordance with the laws of the state, irrespective of which party rules it. In the final analysis, the system that is in place should benefit not the party or the government but the people who are the real masters.
