TEACHERS at 274 secondary schools nationwide will soon get a helping hand with the deployment of 548 MyStep officers to serve as teaching assistants.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (pic) said the initiative will involve schools with more than 1,500 students, alongside seven special education schools that have also been identified to benefit from the programme.
“Each school will receive two MyStep personnel as teaching assistants,” she said during her winding-up speech in Parliament yesterday.
She said the ministry wants to ensure that teachers are able to focus on meaningful learning and teaching activities.
On Feb 18, The Star reported education groups warning of a growing teacher shortage with close to 12,000 teachers opting for early retirement between 2022 and 2023.
In 2023 alone, 6,394 teachers retired early, an increase from 5,306 in 2022, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh previously revealed in the Dewan Rakyat last year.
Fadhlina also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to Tamil vernacular schools, assuring that no SJK(T) will be closed under the Madani administration.
“No SJK(T) will be closed under this government,” she stressed, responding to concerns from RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) about the possible closure or relocation of SJK(T) Ladang Katumba.
She gave an assurance that the ministry will ensure the school will continue operating, even if that means relocation.
“We must continue ensuring these students have access to education just like other children,” said Fadhlina.
Meanwhile, she reported an increase in student enrolment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, rising from 40.95% in 2021 to 50.83% in 2024.
“The target of 60.40% enrolment in STEM will continue to be strengthened with a more holistic strategy.
“We are also providing much better STEM learning facilities by maintaining 508 science labs and 525 computer labs, alongside establishing strategic collaborations with various parties,” she said.
On another matter, Fadhlina said the ministry currently provides 18 schooling aid initiatives to support students, comprising five general aid programmes and 13 specific aid.
For this year, some RM1.2bil has been allocated for general aid, which supports learning, co-curricular activities, sports and school or hostel management.
Some RM4.3bil is allocated for specific aid, which provides eligible students at government and government-assisted schools with monetary support for student necessities, based on the ministry-set criteria.
