BAU: Teachers play the most vital role in shaping the future of every student and as such teachers must practise the highest degree of professionalism at all times.
This reminder came from Assistant Community Development Minister Datuk Peter Nansian when opening the District Education Transformation Programme at the civic centre here yesterday.
“I am pleased that the district education office has taken this initiative to conduct this transformation programme since teachers are actually playing the most vital role in contributing towards nation building.
“We all know that teachers spend most of their time with students and because of that they have to be careful with their habits, behaviour and thoughts so as not to pass down negative attitudes to their students.
“The future of any nation depends very much on the upbringing of the younger generation and if they are taught negative values, they will one day create big trouble.
“This is where it is very vital for teachers to teach their students using the correct approaches because it cannot be denied that teachers in fact can ruin their country,” he said.
As such, he said, teachers should be proud of their profession and to catch up with the fast changing world brought about by globalisation.
“The knowledge that we have acquired before can be obsolete and because the process of learning and relearning is of utmost importance. We cannot stay stagnant but we have to run and make sure that we run faster than our students.
“Only if we are ahead of them can we transform them but not otherwise,” he stressed.
He pointed out that one of the ways teachers could improve themselves and acquire free information was through reading books.
“So I recommend teachers to read as many books as possible because by doing so you will actually show a good example to your students,” he said.
Among those present at the ceremony yesterday was Bau District Officer Les Met.