Malaysia plans to bring in English teachers from India

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia plans to recruit trained English teachers from India soon to help improve the competency levels of local teachers in schools in rural areas, Education Minister P Kamalanathan has said.

Kamalanathan told the lower House of Malaysian parliament -- the Dewan Rakyat -- yesterday that the teachers would be placed in several rural schools across the country, including the "hot spot" schools, those with low passing rates for the English language paper.

The teachers from India would be recruited in line with the Upholding the Malay Language and Strengthening Command of English policy under the School Improvement Specialist Coaches (SISC +) programme.

"It had been on the ministry's agenda to bring in trained teachers from India in the near future, to improve command of the language in rural schools in the country," Kamalanathan said.

He said with the SISC+ programme teachers would be made aware of effective teaching practices and ways of managing the classrooms more efficiently.