Appointments must match enrolment projections to avoid oversupply
PETALING JAYA: The reduction in the intake of Contract of Service (COS) teachers for school next year is unlikely to result in a shortage, said the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP).
Its secretary-general Fouzi Singon told theSun that this is based on the confirmed enrolment projections for the 2027 Year One intake.
He said registration for six-year-olds (5+) for the 2027 school session was conducted from Feb 15 to March 31 through the Identity Management System (idMe) gateway and the Education Ministry’s Integrated System (IS).
He added that parents access the system through idMe, which serves as a single secure login portal, verifying the user’s identity before granting entry.
He said once logged in, they are directed into the IS, the ministry’s integrated system in which the actual Year One registration application is completed.
He also said children eligible under the six-year-old (5+) category are those born between Jan 2, 2021 and Dec 31, 2021.
“The ministry has projected enrolment figures based on the confirmation of Year One registrations submitted by parents.
“The appointment of COS teachers must be aligned with the official projections to avoid an oversupply, as such appointments involve government financial allocations.”
Education Deputy Minister Wong Kah Woh on Wednesday told the Dewan Rakyat that only 73,386 six-year-olds, or about 18% of the ministry’s projected 400,000 pupils, had registered for the 2027 Year One intake, prompting the ministry to reduce its COS teacher intake from 20,000 to 3,150.
He added that total Year One registrations for 2027 stand at 478,419, comprising 73,386 six-year-olds and 405,033 seven-year-olds, representing a 12.07% increase over the 2026 enrolment, which involved only the seven-year-old cohort.
He also said the ministry is building 2,596 new classrooms using the Industrialised Building System modular method across 838 schools nationwide, with projects expected to be completed this year, and is prepared to implement double-session schooling when necessary.
The ministry is also processing 4,417 reserve candidates from the Education Service Commission, with 2,633 set to receive appointment letters soon.
It has a five-year projection on teacher requirements at both national and state levels.
Fouzi said should there be any unexpected increase in enrolment, the ministry would have contingency plans in place to address the situation.
He added that it would be inaccurate to suggest there was a widespread teacher shortage, as the ministry had, for the first time, achieved about 98% of its teacher staffing requirement.
“However, there are still critical shortages in specific subject areas, particularly Bahasa Melayu, English Language and History.
“The ministry has been making continuous efforts to address these challenges.”
On the lower-than-expected response from parents, Fouzi said many had adopted a “wait-and-see” approach, with opinions circulating on social media, often without access to accurate information, also influencing perceptions.
Beginning with the 2027 academic session, children aged six (5+) will be allowed to enrol in Year One on a voluntary basis without having to undergo any screening assessment.
He said children today generally begin attending childcare centres from as early as age three, giving them greater exposure to structured learning and social interaction before entering primary school.
“This differs significantly from previous generations, when many mothers were full-time homemakers and children typically remained at home until the age of seven before entering formal schooling.
“As a result, it was common for children to cry on their first day of school. Today, such cases are less frequent because many working parents enrol their children in childcare centres at an earlier age, allowing them to develop social and emotional readiness before entering primary school.”
He added that many countries have long adopted earlier school entry policies, while Malaysia has been relatively slower in implementing the approach.
On concerns over the future of COS teachers, Fouzi said the ministry has consistently provided opportunities for capable and committed teachers to be absorbed into permanent service after several years, subject to their performance, suitability and recommendations from their respective heads of department.
He said the ministry would also make full use of the Year One transition programme to support the adjustment of pupils, with the 2027 school curriculum to be tailored to their developmental levels and needs.
