Education Minister Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said part of the shortage of teachers could be attributed to a lower intake to teacher training colleges since 2016.

He said there was also a mismatch between graduates' teaching options and available positions, with a surplus in some subjects leading to placement difficulties.

"The Education Ministry requires teachers for certain subjects, but there were limited supplies. However, there were more candidates for subject options which vacancies have been filled," he said.