Abdul Rahman (second left) presents an Excellence Service Award 2013 to a recipient while Sluhi (third left and Kuching District deputy education officer Thomas Kanyan Siam (left) look on. – Photo by Chimon Upon.
KUCHING: Educators in the state must take a hard look at themselves and the education system to find the heart of the problem or they will continue producing mediocre students.
Speaking at the Malaysian Education Ministry Excellence Service Award 2013 for the Kuching Education District, State Education deputy director Abdul Rahman Bolhassan tempered praise with an exhortation to change.
“We have to be realistic; we are not great,” he said, after stating that if they didn’t find out what was wrong, they would continue ‘recycling incompetency’.
He urged the 394 recipients consisting of educators and Education Department officers to seek the change that would put Malaysian education on a world class level.
He asked teachers to continue collaborating with teachers from other schools, and to pursue continuous professional development.
“Without this, there will be no change. You decide your successes and failures.”
Abdul Rahman was representing State Education director Datu Abdillah Adam at the presentation ceremony held at the Sarawak Foundation in Jalan Sultan Tengah yesterday.
Earlier in the programme, Kuching District Education officer and organising chairman Dr Sluhi Lamat @ Narawi also emphasised on change.
“Being willing to share and give feedback, and willing to help each other is a hallmark of excellence,” he said.