SEMENYIH: The Education Ministry is providing psychosocial and motivational support to teachers, in a bid to keep them in schools.
The ministry, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, has also carried out efforts to increase the professional development capacity of teachers so that they can continue until retirement.
However, she stressed that a teacher’s decision to retire early is a personal choice that must be respected and carefully considered.
“There are various factors that influence a teacher’s decision to retire early including health and family responsibilities. We need to remember, the decision to retire early is a personal choice.
“A teacher’s career requires a long 30-year commitment.
“If we talk about ‘humane education’, our administration also needs to be humane by taking into account the wishes and needs of teachers,” she said after visiting SK Taman Pelangi Semenyih in conjunction with the start of the 2025/26 academic year yesterday.
Fadhlina said every year, 5,000 to 6,000 teachers go on compulsory retirement.
“When it comes to early retirement, the number varies depending on personal reasons (that crop up).
“It is important for us to understand the reasons behind the decision, to enable appropriate intervention measures that can be implemented,” she said.
“In this regard, effective intervention measures are important to offset the impact of early retirement of teachers,” she said, adding that the ministry works closely with the Education Services Commission to ensure that the vacancies left by teachers who retire early can be filled by recruiting new teachers.
“We must ensure that this synergy is consistent so that we can address the issue of teacher shortages when it occurs,” she said.
Separately, Fadhlina said the establishment of SK Taman Pelangi Semenyih reflects the government’s efforts and commitment to addressing school overcrowding nationwide.
Yesterday, the school opened its doors to 1,005 students, including some 150 Year One pupils.
Fadhlina said some five million students from pre-school to secondary level started school nationwide yesterday.
This year will see the completion of 17 new schools in the country which will address the issue of overcrowded schools, she added.
“We will continue our commitment to ensure that children can go to school in a conducive environment,” Fadhlina said, adding that the ministry hopes the opening of new schools will address community concerns.
The ministry is also strictly monitoring the construction of schools to prevent delays from escalating into “sick projects”.
“We have made significant advancements in work processes and discipline monitoring to ensure construction timelines are adhered to,” the minister said.
On the Bill to amend the Education Act 1996 (Act 550) to make secondary education compulsory, Fadhlina said discussions are ongoing.
“While we hope it will be included in the upcoming parliamentary session, the engagement process continues to ensure all parties are aligned in supporting and endorsing the amendments,” she said.
On the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams, Fadhlina said interventions implemented by the ministry have successfully improved attendance rates over the years.
“For example, even during the floods, the student evacuations that we carried out ensured 97% of their attendance for SPM,” she said.
Some 6,000 SPM candidates from schools under the Education Ministry did not turn up for the recent exams.
