A rising number of teachers in Malaysia are choosing to retire early, mainly due to health problems, family responsibilities, and waning passion for the profession, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
In an interview with Berita Harian, Fadhlina explained that most teachers applying for early retirement have already served more than 30 years and are financially prepared to leave.
“After so many years, it’s not uncommon for enthusiasm to fade. Some were once very passionate, but over time, that changes,” she said, adding that the Education Ministry reviews each application carefully, especially when it involves a loss of motivation.
The ministry estimates that around 5,000 teachers leave the service annually — including both compulsory and voluntary retirements — making continuous recruitment vital to address staffing gaps.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh previously revealed that since 2022, about 5,000 early retirement applications have been submitted every year, with declining interest cited as the most common reason.
Official figures show 5,306 applications approved in 2022, followed by 6,394 in 2023 and 5,082 in 2024. As of May this year, 2,397 teachers have been granted early retirement.
Fadhlina said applications due to health issues are typically approved quickly, as teaching demands active engagement and administrative duties. Some teachers also choose to leave the profession to focus on business or entrepreneurial ventures.
While work pressure is sometimes a contributing factor, she noted that such cases remain relatively low compared to those involving health or family reasons.
The ministry is also tackling the long-standing “duka lara” issue — cases where teachers are separated from their spouses due to job placements.
According to Fadhlina, 80% of such transfer requests have been resolved this year. Under the current system, long-distance couples who have served for at least two years may apply for transfers through the e-GTukar platform.
She stressed that the welfare of teachers remains a ministry priority, adding that future placements will continue to consider personal and family factors to help ease their burdens.
