KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry has approved 43,133 teacher transfer requests from 2017 to last year.
The ministry said 7,214 teacher transfer requests were approved in 2017; 5,578 in 2018; 6,932 in 2019; 4,672 in 2020; 11,469 in 2021; 3,322 in 2022 and 3,946 in 2023.
The ministry said these transfers were based on three criteria- vacancies, the option requirements, as well as service interests and needs.
Meanwhile, 19,368 teachers have been reunited with their spouses, following a series of transfers over the same period.
"The number is equivalent to 44.9 per cent of the total 43,133 teacher transfer approvals over the said period.
"The ministry always prioritises applications for transfers involving requests from the category of couples living apart.
"For each transfer session, the category of couples living apart consistently has the highest approval rate compared to other categories," the ministry said in a written reply.
The ministry said this in response to Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin (PN-Putrajaya), who asked about the number of teacher exchange applications received and the number of applications approved each year from 2017 to 2023.
The ministry added that the approval rate for teacher transfer applications last year increased to 58 per cent, compared to 41 per cent in 2022, following the implementation of improvement initiatives.
"The frequency of teacher transfers between states and divisions has been increased to four times a year compared to twice a year starting from 2022.
"(And) and the system has been upgraded through the egtukar version 2.0 system, where teachers can choose up to three states for placement."