KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Teaching has lost its appeal because it is perceived as a woman's job. National Union of the Teaching Profession president Hashim Adnan said the stereotype was enhanced with the usage of words such as "patient", "caring" and "understanding" to illustrate a teacher's qualities.

"Words such as 'challenging', 'tough' and 'adventurous' are hardly used to describe teachers any more.

"And most male students regard teachers as highly paid babysitters."

Gone, he added, was the image of the stern and unyielding male teacher, as tough disciplinarians were replaced by television's blanket portrayal of teachers as being female.

Hashim, commenting on recent findings that only 20 per cent of teachers were male, said the government should relax stringent university and teacher training entry requirements for male students.

"Female students are much better in studies, but just because male students do not perform as well as female students academically doesn't make them bad teachers."

He said universities and teacher training institutions should look into the academic performance in the subject the student wanted to major in rather than the overall performance.

"If a student, for example, gets a C in History but he wants to teach English and major in education, I don't see why he shouldn't be granted a place in a teachers training college or a university."

He called on the Education Ministry to hire more teaching assistants so that teachers could focus on teaching.

"Teachers in some schools have become resident handymen and clerks. If the government can hire four assistants for discipline, IT, sports and co-curriculum as well as a grounds keeper, then we can truly increase the delivery quality of our lessons."