This [similar] story perhaps had been told before:
I met a friend, who I know, with his brothers, inherited a reasonable large size of estate from his father. He was a teacher on English, and he stressed, had a degree to teach English [not many nowadays]. ie. Not one who taught English whenever the school or Ministry needed some ‘spare’ teacher in English.
Why did he now work in the estate, though he was part owner of the estate?
During the past long school holidays, he was selected to head some section that organised English lessons so teachers in the district would be better trained on teaching of the language....
When the holidays or lessons were over, he realised that one of his students, of this part time and quick course, that were taught English lessons by him, had become the District head on English Teaching [ie had become his Boss], so that the new District’s Unit Head could continue the works of passing the knowledge of the language....
He resigned and now spend time with oil palm and rubber.
So the new District Head, who probably learned 20% of this previous teacher during the holidays [not full time diploma or degree course which may take up to 4 years], would say, impart the whole 20% or less to his batch of new students on short holiday course, and the students consequently, would perhaps be taking over in time to come, pass part of knowledge learnt to the newer recruits.
That kind of training, would ensure that the school children would learn probably 10% or less from the real English teachers passed by.
Some people would be happy, as their rice bowls are intact, and promotions are for certain selected people only.
Do the country lose?
The Ministry would get English teachers from overseas, though the interest of these overseas teachers is not for longer term. The Ministry do not like their own citizens to impart knowledge here which is much cheaper and rather would spend more on overseas temporary recruits.
National interest?
The standard of English should therefore deteriorate. [It is great to know that some parents overseas send their children here to learn English].
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Secondly, administrative abilities are not equal, so when someone is appointed to a position at District or State or National level, the promotion may not be based on the teacher's teaching or knowledge in a particular subject!
Thirdly, of course when one is to head an English section, one must be fairly good in English. This resigned teacher must have done a damn good job at training his 'pupil' until he is so good now that the MOE recongnises his ability to head the English Section in the District. Congratulations to the trainer! He should have continued to do his good work instead of look after trees now in his estate!