Teaching Assistant
Education
Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher with instructional duties. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.
You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.
What you'd do all day
The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.
- 1Supervise students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
- 2Tutor and assist children individually or in small groups to help them master assignments and to reinforce learning concepts presented by teachers.
- 3Take class attendance and maintain attendance records.
- 4Enforce administration policies and rules governing students.
- 5Teach social skills to students.
- 6Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
- 7Discuss assigned duties with classroom teachers to coordinate instructional efforts.
- 8Present subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, supervised role-playing methods, or by reading aloud.
- 9Participate in teacher-parent conferences regarding students' progress or problems.
- 10Clean classrooms.
- 11Observe students' performance, and record relevant data to assess progress.
- 12Assist in bus loading and unloading.
- 13Organize and label materials and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their eye levels and perceptual skills.
- 14Organize and supervise games and other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, and social development.
- 15Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.
- 16Maintain computers in classrooms and laboratories, and assist students with hardware and software use.
- 17Grade homework and tests, and compute and record results, using answer sheets or electronic marking devices.
- 18Plan, prepare, and develop various teaching aids, such as bibliographies, charts, and graphs.
- 19Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
- 20Prepare lesson materials, bulletin board displays, exhibits, equipment, and demonstrations.
- 21Conduct demonstrations to teach skills, such as sports, dancing, and handicrafts.
- 22Distribute teaching materials, such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils, to students.
- 23Operate and maintain audio-visual equipment.
- 24Type, file, and duplicate materials.
- 25Distribute tests and homework assignments and collect them when they are completed.
- 26Laminate teaching materials to increase their durability under repeated use.
- 27Collect money from students for school-related projects.
- 28Requisition and stock teaching materials and supplies.
Also known as
What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.
- TA
- Grader
- Proctor
- ESE Aide
- ISS Aide
- Exam Grader
- Exam Scorer
- Test Grader
- Exam Proctor
- Paper Grader
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
Entry straight after SPM
2
SPM + sijil / short TVET course
Typical entry
Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)
4
Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)
5
Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
What you'd need to know
The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.
- Customer and Personal Service82%
- English Language76%
English
- Psychology75%
- Mathematics70%
Additional MathematicsMathematics
- Education and Training70%
- Public Safety and Security66%
Tools you'd use
Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.
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 publicA little
- Leading or coordinating othersVery high
- Handling conflict situationsEvery day
- Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
- Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
- Noisy environmentEvery day
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.
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.
Pay in Malaysia
We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.
Where to check:
- JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
- DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
- SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
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.
How to get here
Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.
Related careers
If this interests you, these are worth a look too.
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: Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org