Education Ministry deploys more than 18,000 teachers nationwide
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 18,241 new teachers have been deployed to schools nationwide as of September, bringing the teacher staffing rate to 98 per cent.
As of September, the Education Ministry in Malaysia has deployed over 18,000 new teachers across the country, reaching a staffing rate of 98 percent. Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek revealed these placements as part of ongoing efforts to alleviate workloads and ensure teachers' physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.
This response was addressed to a parliamentary inquiry by Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin on the effectiveness of the Teacher Care initiative and the ministry's long-term strategy to tackle teacher burnout and emotional well-being.
The ministry has adopted a multifaceted approach encompassing psychological support, workplace well-being, and professional development. Since 2023, seven Immediate Measures for Teacher Wellbeing have been implemented to minimize non-academic duties. These measures include disbanding rituals with minimal impact, increasing the number of non-teachers as examination invigilators, and granting teachers greater autonomy in teaching and learning.
Additionally, in December 2025, the requirement to record "Good Practices" in the Student Discipline Misconduct System (SSDM) was abolished, and the manual recording of Physical Activity, Sports, and Co-curricular Assessment (PAJSK) was discontinued in May of that year to lessen administrative burdens.
To further ease their responsibilities, the ministry has also deployed 564 MySTEP teaching assistants and 300 hostel warden assistants. The Training Management System (SPLKPM) and its digital counterparts, such as the Digital Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia (DELIMa) and the Education Management Information System (MOEIS), have streamlined daily operations for teachers.
In addressing emotional and mental well-being, the ministry plans to conduct psychological assessments using the Psychological Wellbeing Inventory (IKPsi) for all educators over the next five years. Those with lower than a moderately high level of psychological well-being will receive targeted interventions from registered counselors according to their specific needs.
The ministry has established an online Psychological Wellbeing Hub and trained 40 education counselors and guidance teachers specializing in mental health to enhance crisis management at the organizational level.
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