KUALA LUMPUR: The prevalence of divorce among teachers due to unsuccessful job transfers or long-distance relationships is on the rise in Malaysia.
Recently, a teacher with 12 years of service in a state shared her bitter experience in the process of transferring to her home state through a post on social media.
A female teacher shared her experience in a Facebook group known as 'e-Gtukar Pertukaran Guru – Oh e-Gtukar!'.
In the post, the teacher detailed the challenges she encountered in the transfer process, including repeated failures in transfer applications despite adhering to all the guidelines set by the department and the Education Ministry (MOE).
She also revealed personal problems, including her divorce and her husband's extramarital affairs.
The teacher claimed she noticed other teachers, whether married or single, have successfully returned to their home states, unlike herself, who is still waiting for her turn.
For Mathematics teacher Iskandar Ahmad, 38, living away from his family for seven years has diminished his enthusiasm for teaching.
Iskandar, originally from the East Coast and currently serving in the interior of Sabah, said he had applied for a transfer several times, but was unsuccessful.
"I tried to think positively, but many things have happened that make me feel down and blame myself for not being with my wife when she gave birth to our two children.
"To date, I can only see my four and two-year-old children growing up through video calls," he said.
Iskandar said he is grappling not only with mental and physical challenges but also with financial difficulties.
He admitted that he nearly lost hope of having a family life when his partner wanted a divorce.
"I do not blame my wife. Even though she is also a teacher, living apart is not easy for her," he said.
He added that his wife had expressed a desire to quit her job, but it was not possible due to financial demands.
"Almost every year, she applies as soon as the application is opened, but it is always rejected for the reason that there is no option available in the requested state. These circumstances lead to her experiencing frequent bouts of anger, stress and eventually being diagnosed with depression," he said.
Meanwhile, National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP)'s president Aminuddin Awang believes that cases of teachers facing hardships leading to divorce are isolated and not too critical.
"MOE needs to consider various factors, such as options and vacancies in a particular location, before approving such transfer applications.
"However, NUTP also urges MOE to conduct thorough and transparent research to approve the transfer process," he said.
Aminuddin clarified that last year, MOE had started allowing teachers to apply for transfers throughout the year, with four transfer periods in March, June, September, and December, compared to two previously.
"The new guidelines were issued to replace the old regulations made in 1975. However, transfers are still subject to job vacancies and the need for options in a location, and this remains the basic principle of MOE," he added.