Deputy Education Minister Chong Sin Woon said it is reasonable to convert two teachers training colleges in Sarawak into vocational colleges.

This is after Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem said the move was "stupid" as it could jeopardise the state's 9:1 target between Sarawakian and non-Sarawakian teachers in schools there.

But Chong said that at present, there were too many teacher training colleges.

"It won't (reduce the number of teachers). We have already explained, there are too many teacher training colleges and they are underutilised.

"Training is given but there are not that many new teachers so the finance minister advised that we optimise the pre-utilised facilities in our budgets and review teachers colleges," he told reporters in Parliament lobby.

However, Chong said the ministry will discuss the matter with Sarawak's executive councilor in charge of education.

The Education Ministry on Oct 29 said no teacher training colleges will be shut down, but some will be repurposed.

There was confusion over the matter after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's Budget 2017 speech on Oct 21.