New circular on teacher transfers out soon, says Radzi

KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry will be coming up with a new circular on teacher transfers soon, says Datuk Radzi Jidin.

"We are aware that the transfer of teachers has been a longstanding issue.

"As such, the ministry is drafting a plan on how to implement such transfers in a more holistic manner.

"God willing, we will be issuing new circular guidelines in due time to clarify the issue and replace the previous circular, which was issued in 1975," the Education Minister said when replying to a question raised by Sabri Azit (PN-Jerai) in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Sept 20).

Sabri told Radzi that there were 6,621 applications by teachers to transfer out of the state they were currently in, and 7,299 applications for transfers to other states.

He asked if these transfer applications would be taken into account with regard to the one-off intake of more than 18,000 new teachers.

Radzi said the transfer applications would be considered based on the needs of the respective schools.

On teaching options for teachers, Radzi said the ministry is also drafting new guidelines which will allow graduate teachers to opt for an additional subject based on their teaching experience.

He also said that matching teaching options for teachers would not be based solely on their core degree but also on subjects related to their degrees.

Earlier, Radzi informed the House that there were 21,564 vacancies for teachers nationwide as of Sept 19 this year.

He said this shortfall will be filled through a one-off intake of 18,702 graduate teachers on a permanent basis.

He added that 2,862 teachers who did not qualify for the one-off intake would be hired on a contract basis.

Radzi said the intake of graduate teachers to fill the vacancies would help end the longstanding issue of the shortage of teachers nationwide.