Current data showed that there could be shortages of teachers in the foreseeable future. A profile of teachers in 2009 drawn from Persal indicated that 1.9 per cent of the teaching force (7,220 teachers) in public schools was in the age range of 60 years and above, 22 per cent (83,000 teachers) were in the age range of 50-59 years and 43.5 per cent (163,590 teachers) were in the age range of 40-49 years. In 10- 15 years, up to 90,000 teachers could exit the system through retirement.