Taking care of our teachers

A priority factor: According to Unesco’s survey results, Malaysian teachers’ welfare is cared for as they navigate their way through the new norm. — File photo

COUNTLESS hours of physical lessons have been missed since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country.

Overnight, more than 400,000 teachers had to adapt to and rely on technology to deliver their lessons.

The resulting movement control order, which began in March, amplified the anxiety among students, parents and teachers who were worried about the effectiveness of online learning.

To understand how Education Ministries in over 100 countries supported teachers and students during the unprecedented time, a global study was launched.

Malaysia was among the countries involved in the survey jointly carried out by Unesco, Unicef and the World Bank.

Dubbed “Overview of Findings from a Survey of Ministries of Education on National Responses to Covid-19”, the first round of the study was completed by Education Ministry officials in 118 countries between May and June, while the second round included 149 countries between July and October this year.

“The survey instrument was designed to capture de jure policy responses and perceptions from government officials on their effectiveness, providing a systematic understanding of deployed policies, practices and intentions to date, ” the report stated.

The sudden closure of schools in the country, and then its reopening and shutting down again due to the rise in Covid-19 cases, shorter year-end school holidays and further delay of major examinations such as the SPM, have been a huge challenge for our teachers.

As they navigate their way through an unfamiliar and at times treacherous terrain of educating students in the new norm, the well-being of our teachers, according to the survey results, has not been neglected.