INTRODUCTION
Teaching is a noble and honourable profession. It is also an increasingly challenging one as the current generation of young Malaysians is growing up with a different set of values and expectations. Teachers are expected not only to impart knowledge but also to shoulder the responsibility of moulding the personality and character of their students. Considering their important role, school leavers and graduates who are qualified and interested in pursuing teaching as a vocation have stable career prospects in the public schools or private schools and institutions.

The Ministry of Education constantly encourages teachers to pursue courses in critical and relevant areas by offering better remuneration packages and potential promotions. Other teaching prospects are in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Physical/Sports Education and Education Science.

JOB DESCRIPTION
Qualified teachers can venture into various jobs such as:

(a) Teacher
- Teaches primary and secondary school levels in the public and private schools.
- Covers relevant academic courses for routine and external examinations.
- Takes full and active part in the students' development and devises projects, extra-curricular activities and special outings.
- Marks exercise books and examination papers, makes teaching aids, prepares lessons and keeps abreast with the latest developments in specific subjects.
- Must be able to communicate their knowledge clearly, effectively and in an interesting manner.
- May join the broadcasting service to provide lessons for pupils such as TV and Radio Pendidikan.
- May write textbooks and workbooks or give private tuition.

(b) Lecturer
- Teaches at higher learning institutions i.e. colleges and universities.
- Possesses a Masters degree or PhD or alternatively, a bachelor's degree with working experience.
- Covers relevant academic courses for routine and final examinations.
- Gives and grades assignments, prepares lectures and keeps up-to-date with current developments in specific subjects.
- Must be able to communicate their knowledge clearly, effectively and in an interesting manner.
- May be required to give tutorials.
- May write books on their area of expertise.

(c) Trainer/Instructor
- Gives trainings at training institutions to upgrade trainees' job skills and competencies.
- Must be qualified academically and/or industrially in their subject areas.
- Prepares training materials and keeps up with the latest developments in specific subjects.
- Must be able to impart their knowledge clearly and effectively.

Teacher Education at Teacher Training Institutions

The Teacher Education Division (TED) - which is a division under the Ministry of Education, is responsible for the planning and implementation of pre-service and in-service teacher educational programmes. These programmes are aimed at achieving the objectives of the National Education Philosophy and the Teacher Education Philosophy so as to produce competent, dynamic, morally uptight, highly-intellectual, and technologically skilful teachers.

TED is headed by a Director and two Deputy Directors, i.e. the Deputy Director for In-Service Training Sector and Deputy Director for Pre-Service Training Sector, and supported by officers and staff from all the nine units at TED and 27 Teacher Training Institutions (TTC) in Malaysia.

The functions of TED are delineated as follows:

• Manage the finance, as well as staffing and administrative matters of TED and the TTC
• Formulate policies and guidelines pertaining to teacher training
• Plan and manage the selection and placement of trainees for the pre-service and in-service programmes
• Plan, formulate, implement, and review curriculum for all teacher training programmes
• Plan, implement, and manage the in-service continuous professional development programmes for teachers
• Plan, coordinate, and monitor the implementation of curricular activities of trainees in the colleges
• Plan and manage the implementation of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development in TED and TTC
• Plan, implement, and monitor the research and development programmes in TED and TTC

Teacher Education Programmes

• Pre-service Courses
  The Pre-service Course can be defined as a programme designed for the training of pre-service teachers for both the primary and secondary schools. This programme is run at all TTC across the country, while the duration and entry qualifications for admission depend on the requirements of the respective courses offered. Among the courses offered are delineated as follows:
  1. Postgraduate Teaching Course - One year
  2. B Ed (TESL) In-Service Twinning Programme between the Ministry of Education Malaysia, and local or overseas institutions - (Six years: two years of Preparatory course and four years for the Bachelor Degree)
  3. B Ed Programme - Five and a half years: One and a half years Preparatory course followed by four years for the B Ed Degree)
  4. Programme for Excellent Students at Overseas Universities - (Six years: One and half years - two years of Preparatory course, three years for the Bachelor Degree, and one year for the Postgraduate Teaching Diploma course)
     
     Qualifications Required for the Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching
     • Candidates must be Malaysian citizen
     • Must be aged 35 years and below
     • Must possess the following academic qualifications:
     1. Bachelor’s Degree from a local or overseas university/institution of higher learning
     2. Credit in Bahasa Melayu and a pass in the Oral Test at the Malaysian School Certificate Level
        OR
     3.  A Principle in Bahasa Melayu at the Malaysian Higher School Certificate level
         
• In-service Courses
  On the other hand, the in-service course is a programme designed to provide in-service training for serving teacher trainers as well as primary and secondary school teachers so as to upgrade their professional skills and competencies. The primary aim of this programme is to provide opportunities to teacher trainers and teachers to develop academically and professionally in their respective fields. In addition, it also enables the target audience to be kept abreast of the current developments and new practices in the education sector, as well as to prepare them for the challenges of today’s global era. In the meantime, entry qualifications and duration of the courses also depend on the type of courses being offered, which include:
  1. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for teacher trainers at Teacher Training Institutions
  2. On-going short term in-service training and development programmes (Course duration ranges from one to five days)
  3. On-going short term in-service training and professional development programmes for teachers teaching critical subjects (namely Science, Mathematics, ICT and English)
  4. Special postgraduate programmes for teacher trainers (Masters and PhD level)
  5. Malaysian Trainers Development Programme (Training of Trainers Programme)
  6. 14-week course for professional development
  7. Special degree course for the non-graduate teachers (one year in TTC and two years in university)
  8. Degree courses for non-graduate teachers via mode of distance learning (Open University of Malaysia)
  9. Special Degree Course for foreign language teachers (currently, TED is offering a French Language Degree course)
  10. Specialist Course for teachers, which takes an approximate duration of one year.
  11. 4-week course for Upgrading the Professionalism of Teachers at Indigenous Schools
  12. In-service course for Upgrading the Professionalism of Teachers at Remote Schools
  13. 12-week course for Upgrading the Professionalism of Teachers at Smart Schools
  14. 6-week Conversion Course for Mathematics, Science, and English teachers
  15. Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching, for teachers teaching at private schools

List of Teacher Training Institutions in Malaysia

Below is the list of Teacher Training Colleges under the Teacher Education Division, Ministry of Education:

1. MP Perlis, Perlis (MPPP)
2. IP Darul Aman, Kedah (IPDA)
3. MP Sultan Abdul Halim, Kedah (MPSAH)
4. MP Perseketuan Pulau Pinang (MPPPP)
5. MP Tuanku Bainun, P.Pinang (MPTB)
6. MP Ipoh, Perak (MPIP)
7. MP Ilmu Khas, K.Lumpur (MPIK)
8. MP Teknik, K.Lumpur (MPT)
9. Institut Bahasa Melayu Malaysia, K.Lumpur (IBMM)
10. IP Bahasa-Bahasa Antarabangsa, K.Lumpur (IPBA)
11. MP Islam, Selangor (MPI)
12. MP Raja Melewar, N.Sembilan (MPRM)
13. MP Perempuan Melayu Melaka, Melaka (MPPM)
14. MP Temenggong Ibrahim, Johor (MPTI)
15. MP Batu Pahat, Johor (MPBP)
16. MP Kota Bahru, Kelantan (MPKB)
17. MP Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu (MPKT)
18. MP Sultan Mizan, Terengganu (MPSMT)
19. MP Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Pahang (MPTAA)
20. MP Batu Lintang, Sarawak (MPBL)
21. MP Sarawak, Sarawak (MPS)
22. MP Rajang, Sarawak (MPR)
23. MP Tun Abdul Razak, Sarawak (MPTAR)
24. MP Gaya, Sabah (MPG)
25. MP Sandakan, Sabah (MP Sandakan)
26. MP Kent, Sabah (MP Kent)
27. MP Keningau, Sabah (MP Keningau)

(Note : Kindly refer to ADDRESS section for the full address of the above 27 Teacher Training Institutions in Malaysia)

Malaysian Teaching Diploma Course

(Kursus Diploma Perguruan Malaysia, KDPM)
The Malaysian Teaching Diploma Course was introduced by the Ministry of Education in 1996 to replace the Basic Teaching Certificate Course to provide training for pre-service teachers for primary schools. It is a 3-year (6-semester) course conducted at the local teacher training Institutions. Trainees are required to select a major as well as several first elective subjects as stated in the Application Guidebook. The fields of study offered are:

• Special Education
• Malay Studies
• English Studies
• Chinese Studies
• Tamil Studies
• Islamic Studies
• Music
• Mathematics
• Science
• Physical Education

Entry Requirements

• Malaysian citizen
• Below 30 yrs of age
• Academic qualifications:
  • SPM/SPVM or equivalent to ‘O-Levels’ with 5 credits, including Bahasa Melayu, major and minor subjects and 2 other subjects
  • STPM full-certificate obtained in one examination or 2 combined certificates in 3 continuous years, with 4 credits at SPM/SPVM level

Selected pre-service teacher trainees sponsored by the Ministry of Education will not only be allowed to study the course free, but will in turn be paid a monthly allowance of RM345. However, they will be required to sign an agreement in which they must be willing to serve in assigned government schools, upon completion of their course.

Private candidates or those sponsored by private institutions will be required to pay the course fee and accommodation cost as accordingly. Upon completion of course, these candidates will not be posted to a government school to teach. They would instead have to hunt for teaching posts at private institutions.

Bachelor Degree Qualification Through Pre Degree Courses

In addition to the pre-service and in-service teacher education programmes as well as the Malaysian Teaching Diploma course offered by the Teacher Education Department, Bachelor Degree-level programmes are also made available to SPM leavers and application must be made through UPU (BPKP IPT) of Jabatan Pedidikan Tinggi.

The 4 degree programmes that are presently being offered and targeted at SPM holders, are Pre Bachelors Degree TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) Twinning with Overseas and Local University, B.Sc. (Mathematics) and Diploma in Education, B.Sc. (Physics) and Diploma in Education, B.Sc. (Chemistry) and Diploma in Education, and B.Sc (Biology) and Diploma in Education.

Entry Requirements
The entry requirements for the Pre Bachelors Degree TESL Twinning with Overseas and Local University are:

• Not more than 20 years of age as of 1 March 2004.
• Obtained 6 Credits in subjects including a minimum 3B in English Language as stated in BPKP IPT Guidebook
• Passed SPM year 2003 or 2002
• Opened to all Science and Arts Stream students

The entry requirements for Pre Bachelors Degree Programmes in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology and Diploma in Education:

• Not more than 20 years of age as of 1 March 2004
• Obtained 3B Credits in Bahasa Melayu and English Language and 4 Credits in other relevant subjects as stated in BPKP IPT Guidebook
• Pass SPM year 2003 and 2002
• Opened to all students in the Science and Technical Streams

For further details, please contact:
Teacher Education Division
Ministry of Education Malaysia
Level 4 & 5, F Block (South)
Damansara Town Centre
50604 KUALA LUMPUR
Tel: 03-2098 6900 / 7209
Fax: 03-2094 1197 / 2093 8475

(Note: The above information may not be up-to-date. It merely serves as a guide.)