A MALAYSIAN teacher is the global winner of the 2022 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards. Is this true?
VERDICT:
TRUE
Khalifa Affnan - an English teacher from the Keningau Vocational College in Sabah - beat 7,000 nominations from 113 countries to be crowned the global winner of the 2022 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards.
He was shortlisted as a regional winner from the Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia region, effectively making such an achievement a first for Malaysia.
Cambridge University Press said in a statement that it is the first time a Malaysian teacher has been chosen as a winner of the award at both the global and regional levels.
He is recognised for his efforts in initiating a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) project, where he trains students in robotics, drones, coding and other technology-based disciplines.
The 36-year-old Selangor-born teacher’s efforts have also increased the active participation of female students and special-needs learners in STEM activities.
“It all started in 2017 when I was sent to South Korea by the Education Ministry for three months for a teacher exchange programme,” he said.
“I learnt a lot from the experience and sharing of knowledge, especially when the Korean teachers touched on the topic of technology,” added Khalifa in an interview.
Khalifa will receive class sets of books and digital resources of choice by Cambridge University Press, a professional development package and will also be featured on the front of every new Cambridge University Press Education textbook from February 2023 onwards.
