KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12- A total of 7,645 candidates were successfully offered appointments through the 2024 Teacher Recruitment Open Market .

According to the Minister of Education, Fadhlina Sidek, out of this number, 1,372 candidates were successfully offered for placements in Sarawak through the Sarawak Special Recruitment 2024, based on the interview results announced yesterday.

"KPM has successfully reduced the number of teacher vacancies in Sarawak by 837 teachers, which in turn increases the percentage of teacher filling in Sarawak to 98.06 percent. KPM will endeavour to ensure that these teacher vacancies can be overcome from time to time.

"At the same time, priority will be given to teachers born in Sarawak for placements in their own state, based on staffing vacancies and option requirements," said Fadhlina in Parliament today.

She was responding to a question from Miri’s Member of Parliament, Chiew Choon Man about measures to overcome the problem of teacher shortage in Sarawak.

As of November 2024, a total of 13,749 new teachers on permanent and Contract of Service appointments have been placed in primary and secondary schools throughout the country.

Of that number, a total of 1,697 new teachers have been placed in Sarawak.