Yong (fourth right) presents the memento to Kho. Wong is at fifth right while Georgina Pui is at second right.
KAPIT: The headmaster of SJK(C) Hock Lam, Wong Siew Ching, has told his teachers not to practise any prejudice towards pupils with different learning abilities and skills.
He said it is their professional duty to educate children to best of their abilities, considering that primary school is the foundation for higher education.
“As teachers, we must adopt the right mindset to accept pupils of different learning abilities and skills. We can’t be prejudiced or discriminate any one of our pupils.
“Teachers must not favour or dislike any particular pupil. This attitude would defeat the purpose of universal education. Our sacred obligation is to educate the young to help transform the country,” he said at the dinner hosted by the Board of Management and the Parent-Teacher-Association (PTA) of the school in conjunction with Teacher’s Day at a local restaurant on Monday.
He also reminded them to be innovative and pro-active in their teaching methods and interaction with the pupils.
He, however, gave the thumbs-up to his teachers and clerical staff for their cooperation in working as a team but told them there was room for improvement in public examination results and involvement in extracurricular activities.
At the same time, he explained that due to space constraint, the school did not have a proper ground for outdoor activities.
On another matter, he said the greatest challenge for the school now was the shortage of classrooms to meet the growing number of students.
He said this was also because in 2011, Public Works Department in a letter to the school had classified one of its double story wooden blocks as unfit for occupation due to termite attack.
Although the school’s Board of Management had set up a Building Committee to replace the block with a concrete building, he said it could not proceed as the architect’s drawing for the new building was not approved due to limited space.
The drawing had been amended but much time had been wasted, he added.
On behalf of the teachers and staff of the school, Wong thanked the Board of Management and PTA for organising the Teacher’s Day dinner.
He said the function not only reflected their appreciation of the important role played by teachers but was a platform for teachers and staff of the school to interact and build closer rapport.
Among those present were the Board of Management vice chairman Datuk Yong Hua Sying, PTA chairman Georgina Pui and committee members.
At the function, Yong on behalf of the Board of Management presented a memento to retiring teacher Kho Sieu Kuan.