GRADUATES from private universities will be roped in to overcome the shortage of English language teachers in the public school system, said Education Minister Maszlee Malik.

He said the government will “try to invite them” to join the public service.

As a long-term plan, the government is stepping up training for more English teachers in the future, he said.

“We are upskilling our teachers and trying to get those who are studying English to become teachers.”

Last November, Maszlee told the Dewan Rakyat that there were 2,615 vacancies for English teachers in schools.

Of that number, 1,557 were in primary schools, while there were 1,058 vacancies for secondary schools.

He attributed the number of vacancies and shortage of English teachers to retirement, more choices, changes in the co-curriculum and extended time period for teaching English in schools.

National Education Advisory Council member Noor Azimah Abdul Rahman also said Malaysia is short of about 2,000 English teachers with some 1,000 retiring each year.

She urged the government to admit that it is facing a national crisis in order to resolve the problem.

Azimah, who also chairs the Parent Action Group for Education, said the group has been pushing for English-medium schools to be set up in every state.

This, she said, will help produce more English teachers. – May 16, 2019.