A degree holder offered RM1,700 for a teaching role fuels backlash over whether gaining experience justifies accepting wages below minimum standards.
A PRINCIPAL questioning why a degree holder deserves RM2,500 while simultaneously offering RM1,700 has highlighted a growing debate over salary expectations in Malaysia’s education sector.
A Threads user recently shared the situation involving a friend who encountered the salary dispute during an interview at an international school.
According to the post, the candidate, despite holding a degree and having five years of tutoring experience, was told that her lack of specific international school experience justified the significantly lower offer.
The user sought opinions on whether accepting the salary in exchange for gaining entry-level experience was a reasonable decision or whether the amount was simply unfair.
The discussion centred on the dilemma between gaining experience and receiving fair compensation, with the user acknowledging that everyone has to start somewhere but questioning whether RM1,700 was appropriate for a secondary school teaching position.
The post triggered a strong reaction from netizens, many of whom rejected the idea that qualifications and experience should be discounted to such an extent.
One user pointed out that SPM leavers could earn similar wages in some unskilled jobs, questioning why a qualified teacher should accept a salary comparable to entry-level positions.
Another netizen advised the candidate to reject the offer, warning that schools offering such low salaries could potentially have poor working environments.
Some users offered a more balanced perspective, noting that subject expertise and teaching qualifications could differ, but agreed that the salary offered was still too low, even for someone starting out.
“Being a fresh graduate does not negate her qualifications or teaching experience. Everyone starts somewhere, but fair pay should still matter,” one commenter said.
A teacher trainee shared a similar experience, revealing that they had their expected salary negotiated down to RM2,700 and were now struggling financially despite having existing commitments.
Others highlighted broader concerns within the education sector, arguing that accepting low salary offers could allow institutions to suppress wages while continuing to charge premium fees.
“He’s severely lowballing her. The minimum starting salary for a teacher at a private school in Malaysia should be no less than RM2,500,” one commenter said.
One user also highlighted the disparity between local and expatriate teacher salaries, suggesting that local educators’ wages had fallen to around a quarter of foreign teachers’ salaries instead of the expected half.
