Southeast Asia Faces Significant Teacher Shortage -- SEAMEO

By Kenny Teng

BURIRAM (Thailand), Aug 27 (Bernama) -- The Southeast Asian region is facing a significant teacher shortage that could hinder the development of a digitally literate generation, according to the Director of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Secretariat, Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim.

“There is a projection that a total of more than 4 million new teachers will be needed by 2030 due to factors like retirement and new teaching positions,” Habibah told Bernama on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting here.

A UNESCO global report estimates that there are currently around 3.6 million teachers in primary schools and 8.5 million in secondary schools across Southeast Asia. 

However, Habibah also expressed concern about the lack of qualified teachers in the region.

“Not all teachers in Southeast Asia have the required level of qualification or preparation to effectively teach in the classroom.

“While countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia have a large proportion of teachers with bachelor's degrees or higher, there are still some countries where a significant number of teachers do not meet the necessary qualifications,” she said.

Habibah's concerns are echoed by the findings of the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM), a regional assessment programme that evaluates learning outcomes in basic education. 

SEA-PLM data suggests that certain teachers in the region still lack the necessary competencies to teach subjects like reading, writing, and mathematics effectively.

To address this challenge, Habibah emphasised the need for Southeast Asian countries to intensify their efforts to attract, train, and retain qualified teachers. 

“Producing a digitally literate generation requires investing in the professional development and support of our teachers.

This is a crucial step in ensuring that all students in the region have access to quality education and the skills necessary to thrive in the digital age,” she said.

-- BERNAMA