A new report released by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) alleges that a full 41% of Malaysia’s science teachers don’t even have university Bachelor’s degrees themselves.
The think tank’s new report, entitled “Science Outlook 2015: Action Towards Vision” was released by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry today.
ASM’s report also notes that out of the Malaysian teachers who do possess a Bachelor’s degree, 70% do not meet the minimum requirement of attaining at least three distinctions in their SPM examinations to quality for their degree programmes.
“Questions have also been raised as to the qualification of our science teachers, and if they are sufficiently equipped with the required knowledge and orientation for effective subject delivery,” The Malay Mail Online‘s Boo Su-Lyn quotes the report.
“Approximately 41 per cent of science teachers in the country do not possess a Bachelor’s degree, with 37.1 per cent holding only SPM/ STPM qualifications and 3.8 per cent holding diplomas,” it added.
ASM also notes that although the number of primary and secondary school teachers in Malaysia has risen over the past several years, the ratio of science and mathematics teachers to students stands only at 1:17, far below the global average of 1:8.
