It is important to focus on the quality of the entire education infrastructure, as that is what will determine the future of the nation, the former international trade and industry minister said.

“We should never adopt ad hoc approaches and measures in education merely to fill in vacancies (of teachers’ positions),” she said in a statement.

Rafidah said the government should refer to studies and reports by education professionals and implement their proposals.

According to her, teachers should forge and nurture good values among the younger generation.

“Wrong things that are taught or imparted in an inappropriate way can have negative long-term impact, especially when race, faith and such elements are introduced based on personal and subjective perceptions,” she said.

She said teaching is an important profession that is pivotal for education to be imparted in the most effective and relevant way, and to benefit society.

“In this era of rapid advancements in the entire spectrum of IT, the very concept of teaching itself must be adaptable and keep abreast with global developments and imperatives,” she said.

Education minister Radzi Jidin previously announced that the ministry will employ 18,702 teachers to address the shortage of teachers in Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor and Johor.

Among the subjects that do not have sufficient teachers in primary schools are English, History, Special Education and Religious Education, while in secondary schools, the subjects include Bahasa Melayu, English and Islamic Education.