MOE establishes joint secretariat to address teachers assigned outside their specialisations

THE Ministry of Education (MOE) has established a Joint Secretariat with the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) as a strategic, long-term measure to address the ongoing challenge of teachers being assigned to subjects outside their areas of specialisation.

The initiative aims to align teacher deployment with the actual needs of schools and the intake of future educators from public universities.

Minister of Education Fadhlina Sidek explained in a written parliamentary reply to Datuk Ser Doris Sophia Anak Brodi (GPS-Sri Aman) that the secretariat coordinates data on schools’ staffing requirements with university graduate intake to ensure a better match between teachers’ qualifications and classroom needs.

“Sharing this data is a strategic step that can address the issue of teachers instructing subjects outside their specialisation,” Fadhlina said.

She noted that in some cases, teachers are assigned to non-specialised subjects to prevent classes from being disrupted by teacher shortages, with new teachers placed according to vacancies in line with subject cluster needs in each state.

A KPM-level committee reviews teacher placement data to guarantee a balance between subject specialisation and geographic distribution.

“At the same time, KPM takes proactive steps to support teachers teaching outside their specialisation by providing teaching kits and manuals. These resources help teachers deliver lessons effectively,” she added.

For instance, the ministry has developed two manuals for history instruction—the Manual Kecemerlangan Sejarah (MkaH) and Manual Maksimum Sejarah (MAXSe). KPM also provides the Kit Didik Hibur to strengthen mastery of the Malay language through creative, interactive, and enjoyable learning activities.

Fadhlina emphasised that maintaining high teaching standards is a core priority.

The Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia (IPGM) collaborates with public university education faculties to share expertise, implement the Teacher School Programme, and engage in ongoing discussions to enhance teacher competencies.

“These measures ensure that teaching quality, learning effectiveness, and national education standards are upheld, even when subjects are taught by teachers outside their specialisation,” she said, highlighting the ministry’s commitment to sustaining educational excellence. - January 23, 2026