A TOTAL of 97% of newly trained teachers have been successfully placed with the cooperation of the Education Services Commission (SPP), says Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (pic).
“Our priority is always the pupils. Every child deserves access to quality education,” she said in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, adding that the ministry remains committed to ensuring adequate teacher distribution nationwide.
“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 added that placements are made based on actual school needs and subject demand, in line with national education priorities.
Fadhlina 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 created special pathways for Sabah, Sarawak and Penan candidates starting at the Institut Pendidikan Guru Malaysia (IPGM) level, enabling them to return and serve their communities.”
For the current year, Fadhlina 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.”
Fadhlina also said the ministry is addressing the imbalance in subject specialisation, which has led to an oversupply in certain areas and shortages in others.
“We are expanding subject clusters and refining our matching process to ensure 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 before being placed in schools.”
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 has also expanded pre-service teacher pathways to include those who completed Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM), Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) and matriculation programmes, to allow 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.”
