Education Ministry pledges to restore glory to teaching profession

THE role of an educator goes beyond teaching a child to read, write, count and reason.

Teachers nurture and guide students in becoming people who are driven, determined, ethical, kind and empathetic.

They motivate their charges to be the best that they can be in the face of adversity.

Indeed, the prosperity of a nation and the capability of its future leaders are rooted in our schools and teachers.

Celebrated on May 16, Teachers Day events were recently held nationwide to acknowledge the key role educators play in the country’s development.

Teachers were honoured for their passion and dedication in ensuring that our children did not fall behind in their lessons amid schools closing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year’s Teachers Day theme “Guru Tunjang Sekolah SEJAHTERA” aptly honours our educators and their sacrifices.

The theme is based on the “Sekolahku SEJAHTERA” concept, which sees the adoption of 14 elements that are linked to the formation of good values and personality development in students.

It is important, the Education Ministry stressed, for teachers to cultivate ethics and spirituality in classrooms in an effort to produce a generation that contributes to the prosperity of the family, society, country and global community.

To boost the morale and capabilities of our teachers, the ministry pledged to elevate the status of the profession so that it will continue to be relevant and significant in our fast-changing world.

Assuring that it would continue to support teachers, accord them due recognition and give merit-based rewards, the ministry said, in a press release on Teachers Day, it would strive to ensure the welfare of teachers is prioritised.

During the 51st National Teachers Day 2022 celebration, Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said the ministry would focus on teacher development and well-being.

He had recently announced a slew of initiatives, including optimising the information filing system and databases in schools, so that teachers are able to focus on their core responsibility of teaching instead of being burdened by paperwork.

“We will ensure that inefficiencies in the school system are addressed to ensure that teachers are able to optimise their time and spend it on educating their students,” he said.