The government is prepared to consider the proposal to merge the 27 Malaysian Teacher Training Institutions (IPGM) into an education university, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Deputy Prime Minister said, however, it must take into consideration various aspects such as the duration of study, the subjects and skills to be taught and the form of education to be adopted.

"The status of the IPGM is also similar to that of a university, it's just that those trained there will become primary school teachers. However, it is a good suggestion.

"Whether the IPGM will be moved, renamed or placed as a large university, this is a suggestion that we can study," he said at a dialogue session during a special meeting with the staff of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) at the Sultan Azlan Shah Campus, Proton City, here Friday.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said this when replying to a suggestion by a UPSI alumni that the existing 27 IPGM in the country be placed under the management of the proposed university.

Also present were Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and UPSI Vice-Chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Zakaria Kasa.

Previously, the National Union of Peninsular Malaysia College Trained Teachers (KKGLMSM) had also called on the Education Ministry to raise the status of IPGM to that of a university.

On July 13, 2005, the cabinet had approved that the status of 27 Teacher Training Colleges in Malaysia be raised to that of Teachers Training Institute (IPG) which could confer the Bachelor of Education degree compared with only producing diploma or certificate level graduates.

Responding to another question concerning the placement of teachers, Muhyiddin said only graduates in education who were truly qualified would be placed at the primary and secondary schools nationwide.

He said graduates who had completed their studies at public institutions of higher learning and IPGM needed to apply for the posts of Grade DG41 to the Teaching Services Commission.