PUTRAJAYA: The government is planning to increase the number of teachers to cater to an expected rise in Year One enrolment next year, as schools prepare to accommodate a possible intake of both six- and seven-year-old pupils, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said teacher preparedness was a key focus, with educators to be mobilised through the Teacher Education Institute (IPG) to meet the anticipated increase in Year One pupils next year.
“Next year, we may see a situation where children aged six and seven enter Year One at the same time, so there is a need for additional teachers,” Fahmi said at a press conference here on Friday (Jan 23).
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, following the launch of the National Education Development Plan 2026-2035, had reviewed feedback and instructed the Education Ministry to closely examine preparations, particularly for five-year-old pre-school pupils and six-year-olds entering Year One.
“This preparation is not only in terms of funding. The Finance Ministry has been asked to look into ways to expedite the necessary processes in an orderly manner,” he said.
He added that close cooperation with the Works Ministry, especially the Public Works Department (JKR), was also required to accelerate the construction of new classrooms using the Industrialised Building System (IBS).
Beyond primary schools, Fahmi said there was also growing demand from religious institutions such as Maahad Tahfiz for teachers, particularly for lower secondary levels and above, to prepare students who wish to sit the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations, especially for Bahasa Melayu and History.
At the same time, he said the Prime Minister had directed the Education Ministry, which oversees SPM, as well as the Higher Education Ministry, which is responsible for Form Six and matriculation programmes, to clarify pathways to public universities for students from various education streams.
“These include students from the Maahad Tahfiz system, as well as those from the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) stream,” Fahmi said, adding that further statements would be issued by both ministries.
He said both the Education Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry were expected to hold a briefing with the media next week to provide more detailed information.
Responding to a question on whether additional budget allocations would be required, particularly for teachers’ wages, Fahmi said this was among the matters to be discussed between the Education Ministry and the Finance Ministry.
“Alhamdulillah, all civil servants received a salary increase on Jan 22, including teachers, so that is not the core issue.
“What we want to ensure is that there is a sufficient number of teachers - not only for Year One, but also to meet demand from Maahad Tahfiz institutions,” he added.
He said more detailed information on staffing and funding arrangements would be provided later by the Education Ministry.
