Underperforming teachers excluded from time-based promotion system

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced today that underperforming teachers will no longer receive automatic grade promotions under the new time-based system.

He emphasised that teachers exhibiting carelessness and a lack of discipline will not qualify for grade promotions.

“I have a bit of a problem with this time-based scheme. We accept the principle. But if the discipline is weak, in a year (teachers) skip attending many times, I want to cancel this system for them,” he said

“The promotion was accepted in principle but will exclude those who are careless and violate discipline,” he said in his speech during the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) Golden Jubilee Celebration at the Tenera Hotel, Bangi here.

Anwar expressed his belief that the majority of Malaysian teachers are not problematic, stating, “I believe over 90 per cent of you are not an issue.”

Anwar recalled his tenure as minister of education, noting that teachers were often blamed for issues such as children taking drugs, poor academic performance, and lack of intelligence.

Despite this, teachers accepted these challenges as part of their responsibility.

He said that a teacher’s role is to educate individuals, instilling humanity in each student, besides fostering a relationship based on love and affection between teacher and student.

Anwar said the welfare of teachers should be protected and at the same time changes should be made.

“Malaysia has the ability and capacity to raise the dignity of the nation and the country, to be a good model economically, politically, socially and educationally because the basic strength is there. If you want to improve, you can’t do it with a sluggish culture like now, you have to be firm,“ he said.

Anwar underscored the need to safeguard teachers’ welfare while concurrently advocating for reforms.

Currently, teachers within the education ministry are granted time-based promotions after three to eight years, depending on their appointment grades.