5 Ways You Can Become a Teacher in Malaysia

Being a teacher is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. Realising the impact you can bring to even one student’s life can be scary (what if you teach the wrong thing?), yet powerful. However, educating someone is not merely depositing as much knowledge as you can, but it’s sparking an interest in subjects they didn’t like before and helping them discover something they never thought they could do. Aren’t you just dying to know how to become a teacher now? Well, here are five ways to become a teacher in Malaysia.

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1) SPM > PISMP > SK

Program Persediaan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan (PPISMP) is a 1-year preparatory course for all students to enter into Program Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan (PISMP) for another 4 years. This course is only provided at Teacher’s Training Institutes (IPG) across the country. Upon the 5-year completion, you will receive a degree in education and are now able to teach in any government primary schools in Malaysia.

Upon receiving your SPM results in March, you can directly apply for this programme via the Ministry of Education’s official portal. Once you have registered, you will have to sit for a test (Ujian Kelayakan Calon Guru) and an interview. If you have passed all these stages, then Congratulations, you’re officially enrolled in an IPG!

What you need to apply: 

• Malaysian
• Not more than 20 years old
• Healthy
• Active in extracurricular activities
• SPM: Obtain excellent grades (Excellent grades include A+, A and A-) in any five subjects (the minimum requirement)
• Obtain credits in Bahasa Malaysia, History and pass English
• Meet the eligibility requirements in the field of specialisation chosen.

Duration: 5 years

Check out the step-by-step guide to study PISMP

View the full list of IPGs in Malaysia 

2) SPM > Matriculation > Degree > SMK

This happens to be the most common route for students. Do note that you’ll have to obtain credits for every subject in SPM. After completing your SPM, you will proceed to do your Matriculation for 1 or 2 years. Upon completion, you can then apply for a degree in education where at the end of your studies, you’ll be placed to teach in secondary schools across the country.

Duration: 5 years

Your Must-Know Matriculation Guide

3) SPM > STPM > Degree > SMK

A majority of teachers have opted for this route because STPM happens to be one of the most affordable pre-university programmes. This pathway is ideal for those who did not achieve excellent grades in SPM but would still like to be a teacher. After completing STPM for 1.5 years, you may pursue your degree in education for roughly 3 years, and you’ll be posted to secondary schools.

Duration: 4.5 years

4) SPM > Diploma > Degree > SMK

If you’ve taken the diploma route, you still can be a teacher! Your next step is to study for a Degree in Education. The best part about taking a diploma? You get a one-year exemption from the degree. This means that you can skip the first year and dive straight into the second year of the degree. 

Duration: 5 years

5) SPM > Pre-U / Diploma > Degree > Teach for Malaysia > SK/SMK

While this route may seem like the longest, it is a beam of hope to those who did not study a Degree in Education but decided to teach instead. Teach for Malaysia is an NGO specially designed to provide a second chance for graduates to teach in government schools, be it primary or secondary. Don’t worry, you will be paid the same as other teachers who took other routes.

One of the unique concepts in Teach for Malaysia is to impart whatever you’ve studied and help them learn in creative ways that will spark an interest and enhance their creativity. For example, if you studied a degree in Music (which is irrelevant to a Degree in Education), use the skill and knowledge you’ve gained to teach History by rapping! The point is to pique the interest of students and help them discover that learning is a part and parcel of life. The sky’s the limit.

 Click here to find out more about Teach for Malaysia

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