KAJANG: Reforms carried out by the Education Service Commission have ensured that teacher shortages will not recur, says Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (pic).
“We have put an end to the matter to ensure that the issue of teacher shortages can be addressed through various mechanisms, particularly to ensure that the teachers we deploy are of high quality and can specifically meet the needs of our students.
“Together with the Education Service Commission, we have successfully overcome the issue of teacher shortages,” she said in her speech during the Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia (IPGM) convocation ceremony here yesterday.
She added that applications to the institute continue to rise every year, reflecting a high interest among school graduates in becoming educators.
“I am deeply moved by the support, especially from parents, who continue to place their trust in the teaching profession, not merely as a job, but something far greater.
“We don’t want teaching to be seen as just a career. Those who pass the interview and go on to train as teachers must truly have the passion for it,” she said.
Fadhlina also gave her assurance that continuous improvements will be made to maintain the effectiveness of teacher placements across the country.
These reforms come as the ministry prepares to launch the new education development plan 2026-2035 and the 2027 school curriculum.
She also said entry pathways into the institute have been expanded to include Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) and Tahfiz Ulul Albab (TMUA) graduates, reflecting the ministry’s push to admit high-potential candidates from diverse academic backgrounds.
Meanwhile, next year will also see the graduation of the first cohort from the IPGM master’s programme, she said.
