She said the main focus of the council was to examine the issues of the workload borne by teachers, including clerical duties, which has become a critical issue among educators in the country, Bernama reported.

“Teachers being burdened with duties other than their core tasks and issues on their welfare are a priority for the ministry to address,” she said on Bernama’s Ruang Bicara forum programme, which was aired last night.

According to Fadhlina, the council will comprise stakeholders in the field of education such as activists, teachers, retired teachers, and academicians.

She said that the council would give its ideas and views as the ministry sets the direction for the national education system.

This follows her statement earlier this month that the council would be reactivated under the new unity government, adding that it was provided for under the Education Act 1996.

The council was first established under the former Pakatan Harapan government in 2018, for a two-year term.

Then education minister Maszlee Malik had appointed 11 people to the council, with former education director-general Wan Zahid Noordin as chairman.

Among the members were Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) chairman Noor Azimah Rahim, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) specialist Boonler Somchit and Khazanah Nasional Bhd education adviser Satinah Syed Saleh.