The gravity of the teacher shortage is particularly severe in Sabah and Sarawak. However, the issue is not new for Malaysia, but it has been exacerbated in recent years by the increasing number of teachers opting to retire early.
Some subjects are outside their area of expertise, requiring extra effort and time to revise and master before they can teach. Numerous complaints have been shared by teachers about the national education system and the pressure of work that are making them feel demoralised and driving them to quit the profession.
One promising avenue for addressing the issue is for the government to consider alternative pathways into the teaching workforce. Universities could also foster partnerships with public secondary schools to create pipeline programmes that encourage students to pursue teaching careers.
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