KUALA LUMPUR: More than 15,000 teacher quarters nationwide remain vacant despite the Education Ministry reducing the number by 2,212 units over the past two years.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said there were 47,855 teacher quarters nationwide, of which 15,312 were unoccupied as of Sept 24.
This was down from 17,524 vacant units in November 2024.
“The number of unoccupied quarters has been reduced through various measures to make better use of the buildings,” Wong told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Oct 22).
He said 2,212 units had since been reassigned, repurposed or otherwise dealt with.
Of these, 1,105 units were occupied by Education Ministry staff and 548 rented out to private agencies.
Another 377 units were converted for other uses, 58 transferred to related agencies and 40 opened for shared use, while 84 units deemed unsafe were disposed of.
Wong was replying to Tuan Haji Kamal Ashaari (PN-Kuala Krau), who asked about the number of occupied teacher quarters nationwide and the status of quarters in his constituency that were reportedly abandoned and overgrown.
On the Kuala Krau quarters, Wong said some were no longer suitable for occupation and would require costly repairs.
He said rental homes nearby were also available at rates lower than or comparable to government quarters, prompting some teachers to rent elsewhere.
Other factors included vandalism, trespassing and the changing needs of teachers with families, who may prefer homes with better facilities and a more suitable living environment.
Wong said the ministry would carry out maintenance in phases, improve security and review the use of quarters where demand was low.
He added that the ministry would be more cautious when planning new teacher quarters, with units to be built only in areas where there was clear demand.
