By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: The Education Service Commission (SPP) has placed 1,000 new teachers in schools across Sabah this year, with 315 assigned to primary schools and 685 to secondary schools.
SPP chairman Dato’ Adzman Talib said the placements form part of the 21,348 Education Service Officers (Pegawai Perkhidmatan Pendidikan, PPP) required nationwide in 2025, as set by the Education Ministry.
“As of June 30, Sabah’s teacher placement rate stood at 97.78 per cent, with 44,058 teachers assigned against 45,057 approved posts in 1,298 schools under the Ministry,” he said during a briefing to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor at Menara Kinabalu yesterday.
Adzman said that despite the high placement rate, several schools in Sabah still face shortages, but continuous efforts are being made to close the gap.
He noted that a key challenge was the increasing number of teachers opting for early retirement.
In 2024, 12,607 teachers nationwide retired early, compared with 13,192 in 2023. In Sabah alone, 947 cases were recorded last year, up from 813 in 2023.
Administrative workload and overlapping demands brought about by digitalisation were among the reasons cited, he added.
“SPP is working closely with the Education Ministry to develop comprehensive solutions to sustain the teaching workforce,” Adzman said.
He also commended the State Government under Hajiji’s leadership for its commitment to enhancing educational excellence through various initiatives and support for schools and students.
Hajiji, meanwhile, expressed appreciation for SPP’s efforts in appointing competent teachers to meet national education needs.
The courtesy call was also attended by SPP member from Sabah, Datin Seri Dr Nuinda Haji Alias; SPP secretary Md Radzi Hassim; and Sabah Branch Secretariat section secretary Intan Zainab Mohd Bustan.
In a separate event, Hajiji was given a demonstration of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital education innovation by Samasama Works Sdn Bhd director Albert Yek.
Albert said the collaboration with the Sabah Education Department aimed to introduce AI-powered digital learning tools to schools statewide, with an initial 100 units to be distributed.
The State Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Sabah Education Director Datuk Raisin Saidin, and senior officers from several related departments were also present.
