DARUL HADITH PULAU PINANG
ENGLISH COMMUNICATION FOR STAFF
Lesson 4 (9th August 2022)
Delivering a Speech
1. Watch the following videos
2. Try to conclude the content
Formal Speech:
Why teachers
should be paid more?
Introduction
Every
one of us recalls fond memories of childhood every once in a while. And in our
memories, some of our favorite and unforgettable teachers often get into the
scene to paint a smile on our face. They have taught us the basics of surviving
the ever-demanding society. And even if things weren’t perfect between us and
our teachers, we can never deny the fact that a part of who we are had been
strongly influenced by our teachers. As Henry Adams once said, “A teacher
affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”
Yet,
they don’t seem to get the respect they deserve from this nation. Why do I say
that? Just take a look at their average salary. It is true that most teachers
get into the profession of teaching for reasons nobler than monetary benefits.
But that doesn’t mean they should not be compensated well. Let me give you three
reasons why teachers definitely deserve a raise.
Body
I.
It will save MALAYSIA billions of ringgit.
First,
let’s look at the most practical side of the issue. The New Teacher Project
(TNTP) estimates that over 10,000 of the nation’s highest performing teachers
leave the classroom every year and among the reasons is low compensation. In
fact, thousands of Malaysian teachers are projected to leave their profession in
the next several years. Once these
teachers leave, we also lose the chance of developing experience among these
professionals. Furthermore, the cost of attrition would range from five million ringgit to over seven million per
year. The
government will have to spend so much on training new and inexperienced
teachers.
Instead
of having to spend much for repairing damages, why don’t we just increase their
pay so they stay in the field and we enjoy better services from more
experienced professionals?
II.
Increasing teachers’ salary will
encourage the brightest students to pursue a career in education, attracting
the talent we need for this important job.
Since teachers have such a significant impact to
society and to our nation’s future, it is only imperative that we have the best
and brightest talents in the field. When our teachers are skilled and smart,
the products of our educational system will also be skilled and smart. With the
current rate of teachers’ pay, however, the brightest students often do not see
teaching as a desirable career.
Although teaching can be a very rewarding job, its
low financial incentives make it look less respectable, compared to higher
earning careers such as medicine and law. Malaysian teachers today make only 67 to 72 percent of what bachelor holders
usually earn. So, even if some brilliant students with so much to share would
want to take up teaching as a lifetime career, they might be discouraged to
live their dream because they would also like to secure some financial freedom
in their lives.
III. Teachers spend their own money for work-related expenses.
Aside from being paid lower than other
bachelor holders, teachers’ income become even smaller once the cost for their
work-related projects and expenses are deducted from their net pay. First, most
of them will have to pay for their own graduate studies and ongoing
professional trainings. Second, 72% of
them buy supplies for their classroom and students with their own money. To
make ends meet, 60% of teachers have been reported to engage in second jobs.
