KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 — A total of 3,591 teachers opted for early retirement in 2016 compared to 2,777 in the previous year (2015), or 0.8 per cent of the total number of teachers, the Dewan Rakyat heard yesterday.
Deputy Minister of Education Datuk P. Kamalanathan said factors for the early retirement include health problems and personal problems and also family issues.
“Optional retirement is prevalent in all branches of the civil service and not confined to the teaching profession,” he said winding up the 2018 Supply Bill for the Education Ministry at committee stage in parliament.
Kamalanathan said there were 421 assistant teachers appointed on part-time basis serving the ministry.
Asked about the alleged sexual harassment of a Tamil school teacher in Kuala Selangor, he said action would be taken according to the existing law once the police complete the investigation.
“There are two subject matters that the ministry will not tolerate, drugs and sex. We will not hesitate to sack the teachers involved in drugs or sexual harassment.”
He said the victim should lodge a police report to enable proper action to be carried out adding the victim would be provided with counselling to overcome the trauma of the incident.
The Supply Bill for the Ministry of Education was passed with a majority vote. — Bernama
