98% of teaching positions in Sabah filled

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has filled 98% of its teaching positions so there is no need to worry about any shortage of teachers, says state Education Department director Datuk Raisin Saidin.

This figure was achieved with the recent addition of manpower on Thursday (March 7).

“A second batch of new teachers is expected to arrive next month,” he said, adding that the subject with the most vacancies is Islamic studies.

Raisin said overall, Sabah still needs between 500 and 700 teachers but this works out to just one or two teachers per school and as such, the problem is far less critical than in previous years.

He said there are a total of 26,360 primary school and 17,144 secondary school teachers statewide.

During a visit to SMK Likas near here in conjunction with the start of the 2024/25 school session on Monday (March 11), Raisin said it was important that teachers and students work together in an environment that makes studying and coming to school fun.

He said with proper guidance and care from teachers, as well as respect and discipline from students, the school environment would be safer, happier, more comfortable and conducive.

“Orientation is one way to allow both students and teachers to warm up to one another, especially those who have just entered secondary school,” he said.

Sabah recorded a total of 540,891 students comprising primary, secondary and vocational college students for the 2024/25 school session.