The Ministry of Education has only approved the transfer applications of 25,000 men and women teachers this year, out of 119,120 who applied to get posts in areas of their choosing.

The ministry has set up a computerized system to handle all applications. Teachers can choose from 10 locations, in 275 areas of specialization. The system stores their information in the event they become eligible for their most-favored location, it stated in a report released recently.

The ministry said that while 62,972 men teachers applied for transfers this year, with approval granted for 14,586 or 23 percent, only 5,206 got their most-preferred location. A total of 56,148 women applied, with 10,271 or 18 percent transferred. However, only 4,821 were deployed to their ideal school.

The report also stated that last year 14,486 men teachers were transferred out of 61,394 applications, while 8,368 women teachers were transferred out of 51,215 applicants.

The ministry gives special consideration to teachers on health grounds, if their children or parents are ill, or if they are the sole breadwinners for their parents. The ministry also has a special dispensation for women teachers who are divorced, or if their husbands or male guardians are dead or imprisoned. This is also the case for women teachers abused by their husbands.

There is special treatment for men teachers who have mentally ill dependents, or have fathers imprisoned for a period of 12 months or more. All teachers with a deceased parent receive favorable treatment.

The ministry has a points system to determine eligibility for transfers. Thirty points are assigned based on the date of application, start of service, number of days absent with valid reasons, and the year of graduation. There are 20 points for performance, and 10 for those who worked as principals or received merit awards.

Those with 20 years of service are granted one transfer to their preferred location.

If a husband and wife working for the ministry apply for a transfer to separate locations, the husband’s choice would be granted first. A total of 110 men and 92 women teachers have been transferred on the basis of this principle, the ministry stated.