A growing number of teachers in Malaysia are opting for early retirement, mostly due to health issues, family commitments, or a loss of passion for the profession, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
Speaking to Berita Harian, she said most teachers choosing early retirement had already served over 30 years and were financially stable.
Each case is carefully reviewed, especially when the teacher cites a lack of motivation to continue.
After so many years, it’s not uncommon for enthusiasm to fade. Some teachers were once very passionate, but over time, that changes,” she told the Malay daily.
The ministry estimates that about 5,000 teachers leave the service every year.
This includes both compulsory and voluntary retirements. As a result, continuous recruitment is crucial to fill the gap.
5000 early retirement applications submitted yearly
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh previously stated that about 5,000 early retirement applications have been submitted annually since 2022. Most of them cited a drop in interest as the main reason.
Official data shows 5,306 applications were approved in 2022, 6,394 in 2023, and 5,082 in 2024. As of May this year, 2,397 teachers have been granted early retirement.
Fadhlina explained that health-related retirement requests are usually approved quickly because teaching requires active interaction and administrative work.\
“When health is the reason, we approve it,” she said, adding that some teachers also leave to focus on business or entrepreneurial ventures.
Cites health or family reasons
While work pressure is sometimes mentioned, the number of such cases is still low compared to those citing health or family reasons.
The ministry is also addressing long-standing issues involving teachers separated from their spouses due to job postings — known as “duka lara” cases.
Fadhlina said 80% of such transfer requests have been resolved this year.
The ministry now allows long-distance couples who have served at least two years to apply for transfers through the e-GTukar system.
She said teacher welfare remains a priority and that teacher placements now consider personal and family circumstances to reduce such burdens.
