The Ministry of Education (MOE) approved a total of 2,261 requests for transfer involving ''duka lara'' (couple's separation issue) teachers of the total 6,636 applications received for the category, for the new school session starting next month.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the approval was for the period between January and June this year with a total of 1,421 teachers placed in primary schools,while 840 teachers at secondary schools, across the country.

"We received a total of 20,470 applications during the period, and of the total, 2,825 cases have been approved for transfer, and '' duka lara'' teachers have the highest approval at 2,261 cases," he told reporters after a press conference at the Padang Terap District Education Office (PPD) here, today.

He said, apart from ''duka lara'' cases, other reasons approved for transfers were length of service (168 teachers), joint application (166), chronic illness (37), security threats (15) and others (178).

"The ministry would like to clarify that consideration of the approval based on the importance of the service involved, vacancies, important examinations, as well as critical subjects such as English and Islamic Education in primary schools and Bahasa Melayu in secondary schools," he said.

Meanwhile, Mahdzir said a total of 1,175 new teachers would be placed in schools across the country in July, and of the total, 746 would teach at primary schools and 429 at secondary schools.

He also added that starting January next year all transfer and staffing arrangements would be implemented at a one stop centre in Putrajaya and hoped the step would improve the efficiency and effectiveness and shorten the processing period and easy reference by MOE.

"We hope what MOE is currently doing will solve a lot of problems especially related to grievances arising among teachers especially those in ''duka lara'' category," he said.

- BERNAMA