Fadhlina Sidek: Nearly 1,800 teachers denied permanent posts after failing key exam

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4— The Ministry of Education disclosed that 1,799 education service officers, currently in their probationary period, failed to pass a crucial teacher examination, according to a written reply issued yesterday. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek attributed the majority of these failures to a weak performance in the comprehension assessment, as part of the Mind Transformation Programme, or Program Transformasi Minda (PTM) in Malay.

As of September 30, 2026, out of 7,723 education officers seeking confirmation, 1,832 PPPs had not met the necessary criteria. The reply stated that 1,799 candidates failed the PTM exam, which was the key reason for the delay in their confirmation. There were also three officers whose probation periods were extended with penalties, 29 with extensions without penalties, and one officer had their probationary status frozen.

Fadhlina Sidek assured that the ministry would collaborate closely with the Education Service Commission and other stakeholders to address the unresolved confirmation cases, emphasizing that the welfare of teachers and the needs of national education would continue to be top priorities.