KUALA LUMPUR: The recent government's announcement of the restructuring of the teacher transfer process where applications can be made up to four times a year has been lauded by teachers as it provides them with a better opportunity to be transferred to new places of their choice.

With the announcement made by Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin, teacher transfers would be made in March, June, September and December every year.

A teacher who wanted to be known only as Ahmad said, he had been waiting for approval of his application to be transferred to his hometown in Kelantan for the past 12 years.

"Until now, my application has not been approved. I submitted the application on the ground to be closer to my ailing parents, to be able to take care of them as they are suffering from chronic diseases. It is very sad as they both had died and my application still remains unapproved," he told Bernama when contacted.

Ahmad said his wife, who is also a teacher, was facing a similar issue as her application to be transferred to Kelantan was not approved.

Another teacher in Melaka, who only wanted to be known as Sue, said she submitted her application for a transfer 16 years ago after her husband died, but nothing had been forthcoming.

She said she did not feel confident at all in making another application this year.

Meanwhile, National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general, Wang Heng Suan, said the move to restructure teacher transfer four times throughout the year provided a brighter transfer opportunity, not only for teachers but also for educators in the category of grief-stricken couples.

"This is good but the Ministry of Education (MOE) needs to ensure that the changes made involve immediate replacement to avoid gaps and disrupt the learning system for pupils or students.

"Nevertheless, consideration must really be given to teachers who had been separated from their spouses for quite some time," he said.

National Parents-Teacher Association Collaborative Council president Associate Professor Datuk Mohamad Ali Hasan said the direction from the MOE has been thoroughly studied to improve the education system in the country.

"The role of teachers is very important in developing skills and characters of the students.

"The balance of teachers in the urban and rural areas is necessary, especially specialist teachers. The transfer should be allowed after a certain period of time so that they do not get bored teaching at the same school," he said.

-- BERNAMA