MoE approves 11,606 transfer applications by teachers separated from spouses

KUALA LUMPUR: Since January 2016, the Ministry of Education ( MoE) has approved 11,606 transfer applications filed by teachers who are separated from their spouses, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.

Deputy Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon said the applications were approved after taking into account four key criteria, namely service priority, vacancies, optional requirements in the state, as well as in the districts applied.

“The MoE is always striving to ensure that the issue of teachers separated from their spouses will be resolved. However, this problem will always exist.

“The transfer of teachers does not take place once or twice as before, but happens throughout the year,” he said in reply to a question from Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing ( BN-Bintulu) during question time.

Chong said in this regards, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu were considered critical states as there were high number of applications seeking transfer to the states, but too few vacancies.

“In Kelantan, for example, vacancies in secondary schools are only 40, but the number of applications for transfer to the state amounting to 1,999,” he said, adding that among other reasons cited by teachers for transfer were chronic illness, safety threats and service period. — Bernama