Kuala Lumpur: The Ministry of Education (MOE) has successfully placed 13,749 new teachers in primary and secondary schools across Malaysia this year. This initiative aims to address the ongoing teacher shortages in collaboration with the Education Service Commission (SPP).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek reported that as of October 31, the teacher placement rate in primary schools reached 97.62 percent, while secondary schools achieved a rate of 95.16 percent. Fadhlina emphasized the ministry’s commitment to ensuring continuous teacher placements, taking into account subject areas experiencing teacher shortages.

“We are diligently addressing the issue of teacher shortages,” Fadhlina stated. She expressed confidence in the capabilities of both the SPP and MOE to resolve this issue gradually and consistently. Her remarks were made during the winding up of the debate on the Supply Bill (Budget) 2025 at the committee stage for her ministry in the Dewan Rakyat.

In addition to
addressing teacher shortages, Fadhlina highlighted an increase in the placement rate for staff in the implementing group, which rose to 97 percent as of November 30, compared to 84 percent last year. She noted that optimizing recruitment for this group is part of the MADANI government’s strategy to ease the administrative and management burdens on teachers.

Fadhlina further informed that she had instructed MOE’s school inspectors to monitor the implementation of seven measures designed to reduce teachers’ burdens. These measures include discontinuing any competitions, celebrations, or ceremonies that do not significantly impact student learning and limiting the review of school management elements of the Malaysian Education Quality Standard (SKPM) involving teachers to once a year.

The Dewan Rakyat has since approved the operating and development expenditure of RM64,190,049,400 allocated to MOE in Budget 2025, following a majority vote in favor after 26 MPs debated the matter.