Teachers need to update skills to stay relevant

TEACHERS not only need to keep up with the changes and transformations, but also must unravel and repackage knowledge, skills, pedagogies and learning outcomes to stay relevant and connected to the future, said Johor Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah.

She said as the realities of education is being shaped by advances in technology, the digital and digitised education not only required students, teachers and stakeholders to be technology savvy but also, be able to operate using different modes of thinking and doing.

“Teachers can do this by using varied, effective strategies to instruct diverse learners, using tests and other information on students' performance in instructional planning, and focusing on literacy and numeracy development. We have seen many examples of how teachers have made an impact on the lives of their students. I believe that they should be held as role models for others to follow.

“Their best practices must be shared with all teachers so that they can collectively change communities and nations,” she said.

Raja Zarith Sofiah, who is also Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (Melta) royal patron, said this in her speech when officiating the 27th Melta International Conference 2018 in Johor Baru last month.

Also present was Melta president Prof Dr S Ganakumaran. During the conference, Nor Fadzleen Sa’don from Bandar Baru Uda, Johor, was named as the recipient of the Melta Hyacinth Gaudart Best English Teacher award. — Bernama