KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry's move to recruit 20,000 new contract teachers under the Malaysia Education Plan 2026–2035 is a welcome and necessary step, but it should be complemented by efforts to bring retired teachers back into classrooms, particularly those with strong English proficiency, the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) said.
This comes as the government moves to elevate English standards in schools and prepares to welcome six-year-olds into Standard 1 beginning next year.
NUTP secretary-general Fouzi Singon said combining new recruits with the experience of retired teachers is one way to address the nationwide teacher shortage.
"We cannot stop teachers from retiring, but we should try to encourage some of them to return, particularly to support Standard One from 2027," he said.
"There are concerns about whether newly recruited teachers will be sufficiently prepared to manage younger pupils, especially given existing shortages."
The Education Ministry recently announced that applications for 20,000 DG9-grade Education Service Officers on a contract basis will open from March 2 to 20, with interviews scheduled from late April to mid-May. Applications are open to candidates below the age of 40. Successful applicants will undergo professional training at Teacher Education Institutes to ensure competency and professionalism.
Fouzi said older teachers often bring stronger English proficiency and deeper classroom experience.
"This makes retired teachers a valuable resource at a time when teacher shortages persist nationwide, particularly outside major urban centres," he said.
He added that shortages remain a nationwide issue, with larger cities especially affected due to higher living costs and reluctance among teachers to accept postings there.
"This problem has persisted for over three decades."
While NUTP supports the recruitment drive, Fouzi said discussions with retired teachers revealed clear conditions for their return.
"I have spoken to retired teachers about coming back to work. They are open to the idea, but the majority do not want to take on management or clerical duties," he said.
"They want to focus on teaching and marking students' work."
He suggested that retired educators be hired as teaching assistants rather than full-time teachers, allowing them to concentrate on classroom instruction while full-time teachers handle administrative responsibilities.
Last week, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said her ministry hired 20,173 new teachers last year, up from 13,983 in 2024. She added that the number of teachers opting for voluntary retirement had also declined, with 4,271 retiring in 2025 compared with 5,082 the year before.