The interviews and intake of teachers is currently conducted by the Education Services Commission at the federal level before successful teachers are posted, subject to vacancies in their respective states.
Its minister, Mahdzir Khalid said the proposal was discussed at the ministry level, but the current backlog of applications for teacher transfers throughout the country would take time to resolve.
“In the long-term, it is better if we conduct interviews according to the states and postings.
“If Perak has 400 people who are retiring, we interview 400 people, and only if this is not enough will we take (teachers) from nearby states,“ he said.
Mahdzir was speaking at the launching of a state teachers’ community programme at Sekolah Kebangsaan Nakhoda Muhammad Taib, Segari here this afternoon.
He added that the ministry expected 4,000 additional transfer applications throughout the country by year’s end.
He said from January 2015 till June this year, 14,000 teacher transfers were approved throughout the country.
He added it would take between three to four years to reduce the current backlog.