KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 97% of newly trained teachers have been successfully placed with the cooperation of the Education Services Commission (SPP), according to Fadhlina Sidek.
The Education Minister said the ministry remains focused on ensuring every child across the country has access to quality education.
“Our priority is always the pupils. Every child deserves access to quality education.
“Achieving a 97% placement rate is a reflection of our strong collaboration with SPP, and we will continue to ensure sufficient teacher distribution nationwide,” she said in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (July 31).
On job placements, Fadhlina said the arrangement is made to ensure that teaching positions are filled efficiently and align with national education priorities.
“Placements are made based on actual needs and subject demands in schools across the country.”
She reiterated that priority is given to candidates from Sabah, Sarawak, and Orang Asli communities, especially for placements near their hometowns.
“To support rural education development, the ministry gives special attention to candidates from Sabah, Sarawak, and the Penan community.
“They are given priority through special pathways starting at Institut Pendidikan Guru Malaysia (IPGM) entry level, so they can return to serve in their home regions,” she said.
For the current year, she said placements for IPGM graduates are scheduled for September, subject to the outcome of interviews conducted by SPP.
“In 2024, all 5,256 IPGM graduates from the Bachelor of Education programme received placements across the country.
“For 2025, the process will begin this September following the conclusion of interviews,” she said.
Fadhlina also said the ministry is addressing the imbalance in subject specialisation, which has led to oversupply in certain areas and shortages in others.
“We are expanding subject clusters and refining our matching process to ensure that graduates are placed according to their academic and pedagogical training,” she said.
In line with these efforts, she said the ministry has introduced structured training for graduates without formal education degrees who are recruited under the Contract of Service (COS) scheme.
“These COS teachers will undergo a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Education (DPG) at IPGM to equip them with the necessary teaching skills before being placed in schools,” she said.
Fadhlina added that teacher recruitment is no longer limited to IPGM or public universities.
“We are now opening opportunities to high-potential graduates from private Malaysian institutions and even foreign universities,” she said, adding that these candidates must still meet the ministry’s qualification criteria.
The ministry, she said, has also expanded pre-service teacher pathways to include those who completed STPM, STAM, and matriculation programmes, allowing them to enrol in education training schemes.
“This ensures a broader and more inclusive talent pool to meet future demands,” she said.
Fadhlina stressed that while applicants may indicate location preferences, all final placements are ultimately determined by school-level vacancies and subject requirements.
“The core of our placement process is the national education agenda. It is not about convenience – it is about fulfilling our duty to ensure that every classroom has a qualified teacher,” she said.
