Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said 7,975 teachers who have completed the Teachers Graduation Programme will be appointed to a new grade soon.

He said that on May 23, the Education Ministry received a warrant to promote Diploma Level Education Service Officers (PPLD) to grade DG41 upon completion of the programme.

“A two-year delay in the appointment was one reason that teachers did not want to pursue the programme, so the ministry will try to resolve this matter quickly.

“We hope more teachers will take part in the programme to increase the quality of their services, as well as elevating the teaching profession,” he told reporters after officially opening the Penang Education Department’s Excellent Service Award ceremony 2012 in Bukit Mertajam today.

Mohd Puad said the government expected all teachers nationwide to be degree holders by 2020, and 70,062 teachers joined and completed the Teachers Graduation Programme since it was introduced in 2006 until 2012.

He added that 22,102 more teachers would enroll in the programme for the second intake in September which involved a cost of RM400 million.

- Bernama