Nooreffariza (seated third left) and Nasir (fourth left in second row) pose with teachers and parents of Tabika Kemas Lakil C and D during the Teacher’s Day celebration.
LIMBANG: Teacher’s Day is celebrated across the world on October 5 every year but Malaysia chose to recognise this special day on May 16 each year.
According to statistics for this year, there are five million young Malaysians in 10,173 schools being taught by 419,820 teachers to be future leaders of the country
It is on May 16 that teachers are publicly appreciated, recognised and celebrated for their efforts in nurturing children placed by parents in their care.
Much has changed in the past decades, with teaching techniques and education blueprint evolving with time.
One teacher, Ruhani Jahar, 55, of Kampung Nuran in Limbang has been teaching for 32 years and has seen the changing landscape with its set of challenges.
She started as an assistant in a Kemas kindergarten in 1984 and worked her way up.
“The 80s was very different from the present. Techniques and learning approach were different.
“Kids were scared of teachers and were less active compared to the modern day kids who are more independent, active and more advance in thinking,” she said.
However, one thing is constant in the changing era – love and gentleness of a teacher in approaching these kids.
Ruhani, who is currently teaching at Lakil Kemas A kindergarten, will be retiring this yearend as a teacher.
She will miss being around kids when the time comes.
Ruhani has come across many different characters of children in over three decades of being with them, including the hyper-active types whom she taught with mixed emotion of excitement and empathy.
On Teacher’s Day, she regards the close cooperation between parents and teachers as dearest to her.
Her counterpart at Kemas Lakil C, Siti Ardilla Pedi, 27, from Kampung Buangsiulis shared her passion of educating the young.
“Nothing is more rewarding for a teacher than to see the kids being able to read,” she said.
Teaching since 2011, she is driven to ensuring the kindergarten students are able to read when they are five to six years old.
Siti Ardilla takes the highs with the lows in her profession, including facing allegations of abusing children.
“Some parents do not understand the role and duty of a teacher. We just have to communicate with them and explain our roles,” she pointed out.
She believes that such challenges need to be faced with calmness and courage as the motivation to educate the children will result in the desired results in future.
Lakil A and Lakil C held a joint thanksgiving celebration with parents to commemorate Teacher’s Day yesterday.
The ceremony was attended by Limbang Kemas officer Nooreffariza Awang Muslaini, Tabika Kemas Lakil A, B, C and D chairman Nasir Kindang and teachers.