Loss of Interest Main Reason Behind Teachers’ Early Retirement | KiddyNews

The majority of teachers choosing early retirement in Malaysia are doing so because they have lost interest in teaching, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh revealed.

Between 2022 and May 2025, an average of 5,594 teachers applied to retire early each year. In 2023 alone, 6,394 teachers left the service before reaching retirement age.

How many teachers have retired early?

• 2022: 5,306
• 2023: 6,394
• 2024: 5,082
• Up to May 2025: 2,397
  This averages to about 5,594 teachers each year.
  
  

According to ministry findings, the breakdown of reasons is as follows:

• 67% – loss of interest in teaching
• 17% – family issues
• 8% – health concerns
• 5% – heavy workload
• 2% – other reasons

“Loss of interest in teaching is the dominant factor,” Wong said, noting that it reflects challenges in sustaining teacher motivation and passion for the profession.

Steps to Address the Issue

The Education Ministry has introduced several measures to reduce teacher burnout and support educators:

• Recruiting new teachers – Permanent appointments are made twice a year, with applications open all year to quickly fill vacancies.
• Smoother school operations – The School Governance Module (MySG), introduced in 2021, helps improve school management.
• Clearer roles – A 2016 job description document continues to guide teachers on their core duties.

Focus on Teacher Well-being

To boost morale, the ministry launched a seven-step initiative covering teaching methods, exams, school operations, and administration. A survey in December 2024 with more than 1,000 schools showed positive results.

In addition, a Teacher Well-being Index study carried out from November 2024 to January 2025 with 23,625 teachers scored 77.65 out of 100, suggesting overall satisfaction despite the challenges.

Wong assured that the government remains committed to improving teacher support systems so educators can rediscover their passion and provide the best education for students.

Source:  Malay Mail — “Teachers’ early retirement driven by loss of interest, family, and health issues, says deputy education minister,”

Thoughtfully adapted by KiddyNews — keeping parents and educators informed with the latest ECCE developments from Malaysia and beyond.