Education Act 1957 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 8 · Registration of Teachers
38. Grounds for refusal to register a teacher
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2025. 2 amendments in all.
The Director-General may refuse to register a person as a teacher if the applicant —
is not of good character;
has been convicted before any court of competent jurisdiction in Singapore or in Malaysia or in any part of the Commonwealth, of an offence punishable with imprisonment or of an offence under this Act or under any previous written law relating to education or the registration of schools or under any similar law in force at any time in Malaysia;
has previously been refused registration as a manager on grounds which would also have precluded his registration as a teacher, or has been refused registration as a teacher under this Act or any previous written law relating to education or the registration of schools or any similar law in force at any time in Malaysia;
teacher
“teacher” means a person who teaches pupils in a school or who prepares or issues lessons or corrects written answers in a correspondence school and includes a principal;
has been struck off the register on the cancellation of his registration as a teacher under this Act or under any previous written law relating to education or the registration of schools or under any similar law in Malaysia, unless the cancellation of his registration as a teacher has taken place because of his resignation or because the school in which he was employed has ceased to exist;
school
“school” means according to the context —(a)an organisation for the provision of education for 10 or more persons; or(b)a place where 10 or more persons are being or are habitually taught whether in one or more classes, or in the case of a correspondence school, the place or places where instruction is prepared or where answers are examined or corrected;
is unable to furnish evidence of medical fitness to the satisfaction of a medical officer of schools appointed in accordance with section 51(1);
medical officer
“medical officer” means a registered medical practitioner in the service of the Government;
has at any time under any written law made a statement false or misleading in a material particular in an application for registration as a teacher or in information supplied in connection with the application;
is likely to influence his pupils in a manner prejudicial to their welfare or to the public interest; or
does not possess the minimum qualifications prescribed in the regulations made under this Act.