Teacher shortage persists as new school year starts

 

Teacher shortage in the public education system continues to persist as the new academic year kicks off today.

According to Education Ministry director-general Pkhairuddin Ghazali, the shortage is for four subjects - namely Design and Technology, English and Malay languages, as well as Islamic Studies.

Previously, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek had in January pledged to resolve the shortage in time for the new school year.

However, Pkhairuddin told reporters today that the shortage might take up to three years to resolve.

“We will deal with the teacher shortage phase by phase as the problem cannot be solved in a short time. It will probably take two or three years,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama today.

Pkhairuddin said the Education Ministry has proposed several refinements to recruitment methods and would be conducting recruitment exercises soon.

He added that the ministry will also be working with the Teachers Education Institutes (IPG) and public universities to increase the number of trainee teachers in the four subjects affected.

It is not clear how many schools or how widespread the shortage is, but Fadhlina had said previously that Sarawak was one of the worst affected.

Schools in Kelantan, Kedah, Terengganu, and Johor, which have a Friday-Saturday weekend, opened their doors to students today.

Schooling in the rest of the country will begin tomorrow.

Pkhairuddin had previously said there would be no lessons during the first week of schooling.

Instead, students will be attending sessions that instil "physical, emotional, social and intellectual values". - Mkini