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Special Education Teacher

Education

Teach academic, social, and life skills to elementary school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.

Education

Picture the job

Where you'd usually workA classroom

  • Mostly indoors
  • Rarely dealing with the public
  • Regular working hours
  • A noisy workplace

An illustration of a typical workplace, not a photo. The work-style notes come from US O*NET data, so read them as a guide.

In Malaysia

In Malaysia most special needs pupils are taught in Program Pendidikan Khas Integrasi (PPKI) classes inside mainstream government schools, with fewer in dedicated special education schools and inclusive classes. Special education teachers receive a RM250 monthly allowance on top of basic pay, and the ministry has openly acknowledged a shortage in some districts.

How people get into it here
SPM → PISMP at an Institut Pendidikan Guru (special education option) or a B.Ed in Special Education at a university (e.g. UKM, UPSI, UM) → appointed as a DG9 teacher in a special education school, PPKI class or inclusive programme. Existing mainstream teachers can also switch after a short KPM special education course.
Demand
As of 31 January 2026 there were 154,557 pupils with special educational needs; 20,420 of 21,876 special education teacher posts were filled, and the Education Ministry expected to place at least 1,293 new special education teachers in 2026. Bernama (Deputy Education Minister, Dewan Negara)

Sources:spa.gov.mybernama.comutusan.com.mypppm.moe.gov.my

Pay in Malaysia

Government starting pay

RM2,580 – RM3,130

per month

Official basic pay for the government grade, before allowances. Private-sector pay can differ.

SPA – Pegawai Perkhidmatan Pendidikan Gred DG9 · Dec 2024

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. Typical entry

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree
The full route to this careerThe steps from school, UPU programmes and sourced costs, read against your answers.

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

IPG (Teacher Training)

Explore KPM's teacher-training route. Check current funding and apply through KPM's PISMP portal, not UPUOnline.

~5 years
Compare routes against your results and interests

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

Quick answers

How do you become a Special Education Teacher in Malaysia?

SPM → PISMP at an Institut Pendidikan Guru (special education option) or a B.Ed in Special Education at a university (e.g. UKM, UPSI, UM) → appointed as a DG9 teacher in a special education school, PPKI class or inclusive programme. Existing mainstream teachers can also switch after a short KPM special education course.

What should I study to become a Special Education Teacher?

Related fields of study: Education. SPM subjects that help most: English, Computer Science / ICT, Electrical & Electronic Eng. Studies and Additional Mathematics.

How much does a Special Education Teacher earn in Malaysia?

The official pay scale put starting pay at RM2,580 – RM3,130 a month (source: SPA – Pegawai Perkhidmatan Pendidikan Gred DG9, Dec 2024).

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Instruct students with disabilities in academic subjects, using a variety of techniques, such as phonetics, multisensory learning, or repetition to reinforce learning and meet students' varying needs.
  2. 2Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
  3. 3Modify the general elementary education curriculum for students with disabilities.
  4. 4Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
  5. 5Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, or administrative regulations.
  6. 6Prepare classrooms with a variety of materials or resources for children to explore, manipulate, or use in learning activities or imaginative play.
  7. 7Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
  8. 8Provide assistive devices, supportive technology, or assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
  9. 9Coordinate placement of students with special needs into mainstream classes.
  10. 10Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEPs) for students' educational, physical, or social development.
  11. 11Encourage students to explore learning opportunities or persevere with challenging tasks to prepare them for later grades.
  12. 12Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
  13. 13Meet with parents or guardians to discuss their children's progress, advise them on using community resources, or teach skills for dealing with students' impairments.
  14. 14Monitor teachers or teacher assistants to ensure adherence to special education program requirements.
  15. 15Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, or self-advocacy.
  16. 16Establish and communicate clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects to students.
  17. 17Guide or counsel students with adjustment problems, academic problems, or special academic interests.
  18. 18Plan or conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
  19. 19Prepare objectives, outlines, or other materials for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or school or state requirements.
  20. 20Instruct students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, or food preparation.
  21. 21Collaborate with other teachers or administrators to develop, evaluate, or revise elementary school programs.
  22. 22Confer with other staff members to plan or schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.
  23. 23Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment or materials to prevent injuries and damage.
  24. 24Prepare, administer, or grade tests or assignments to evaluate students' progress.
  25. 25Organize and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their perceptual skills.
  26. 26Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, or teacher training workshops to maintain or improve professional competence.
  27. 27Interpret the results of standardized tests to determine students' strengths and areas of need.
  28. 28Organize and supervise games or other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, or social development.
  29. 29Administer standardized ability and achievement tests to elementary students with special needs.
  30. 30Plan or supervise experiential learning activities, such as class projects, field trips, demonstrations, or visits by guest speakers.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Teacher
  • SPED Clerk
  • APE Teacher
  • DHH Teacher
  • LBD Teacher
  • SPED Teacher
  • Blind Teacher
  • SPED Associate
  • Braille Teacher
  • Interventionist

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Electrical & Electronic Eng. StudiesDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
MathematicsDraws directly on Mathematics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Education and Training96%
  • English Language92%

    English

  • Customer and Personal Service84%
  • Computers and Electronics79%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Mathematics77%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • Administration and Management72%

    BusinessEconomics

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicNot at all
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentEvery day
  • Time spent sittingA little

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points, not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

17%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023, already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Special Education Teachers, Elementary School

Source: SPA – Pegawai Perkhidmatan Pendidikan Gred DG9 · as of Dec 2024

Check the salary figures yourself:SPA – Pegawai Perkhidmatan Pendidikan Gred DG9

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org