Education Ministry: Contract Teacher Recruitment Will Not Affect Reserve Candidates
SEREMBAN — The Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia (Education Ministry) has assured that the recruitment of 20,000 contract teachers starting in March will not undermine the prospects of existing reserve teacher candidates.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said the ministry has been working closely with the Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Pendidikan (Education Service Commission) to ensure qualified reserve candidates continue to receive placement opportunities.
He stressed that candidates who passed interviews and were placed on the reserve list should not be worried, as their chances of joining the service remain strong.
“Reserve candidates still have good prospects. Their placement depends on current needs and may involve primary schools, secondary schools, or different subject options,” he told reporters.
Wong was speaking after handing over interactive smart boards to Tamil primary schools in Negeri Sembilan.
He was responding to concerns among some reserve candidates who feared their opportunities would be affected by the large-scale recruitment exercise.
Previously, the Education Ministry announced that applications for 20,000 Grade DG9 teachers under the Contract of Service (CoS) scheme would be open from March 2 to March 20 to meet nationwide staffing needs.
Wong said the initiative forms part of the ministry’s early preparations for the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2026–2035 and supports the voluntary enrolment of six-year-old children into Year One next year.
He added that the recruitment exercise would mainly focus on primary schools, particularly to accommodate the expected intake involving two student cohorts in the coming year.
Meanwhile, Wong said 45 Tamil primary schools in the state have received interactive smart boards, involving an allocation of RM540,000.
The initiative, implemented through Unit Transformasi Masyarakat India Malaysia (MITRA), aims to strengthen digital learning and enhance classroom interaction.
He expressed hope that the digital facilities would improve teaching effectiveness and equip students with essential technological skills for the future.
-wilayah.com.my
