SRI AMAN: The success of a school depends on the quality of its leadership, said Tokoh Kepimpinan Pendidikan Negeri Sarawak 2019 award recipient, Associate Professor Dr Shahri Abdul Rahman.
“If a school headmaster or principal is not proactive, the school will also not be active. It begins with the headmaster and principal and they must be active and know which direction they want to bring their school to,” Dr Shahri told reporters after receiving his award during the state-level Teachers’ Day celebration here yesterday.
Dr Shahri received RM13,000 in cash, a trophy and a certificate.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg officiated at the event.
According to Dr Shahri, school headmasters and principals nowadays are more objective and focused compared to those some 20 years ago.
“This is because school principals and headmasters now are trained before they are appointed to the positions, unlike in the past when they were appointed without going through the training,” he said, adding that they played important roles in ensuring the success of their respective schools.
According to Dr Shahri, during their training, the principals and headmasters were required to take up courses on technology which would enable them to use the latest technology at their disposal.
“That’s why last time, some 20 years ago, we didn’t hear about any networking between Malaysian principals and those overseas, but now they can do that.
“They set up their own networking with school leaders all over the world. This is the power of digital technology and this is the kind of development that we would like to emphasise world-wide,” he added.
Dr Shahri, however, said that overall, Sarawak was still lagging behind in terms of access to digital technology compared to other states in Malaysia.
“That why when our chief minister emphasises on digital economy and digital technology, we have to work extra hard.
“We (Sarawak) need to put in place our digital infrastructure fast,” he added.
Meanwhile, a retired teacher Datuk Dr Fong Onn Min, who received the Tokoh Guru Negeri Sarawak 2019 award said he was happy and grateful to the education department and state government for the award, adding that his 35-year contributions in the teaching profession had paid off.
Dr Fong started his career as a teacher and was a lecturer at a teachers’ college and a school principal before he retired.
According to him, students nowadays are very advanced compared to students 20 years ago.
“As such, our approach to teaching them should also be up to date, otherwise we will not be able to convince them that we can teach them,” he said.
He advised young teachers to be good teachers, adding that teachers must grow together with their students, otherwise they would be left behind.
“Another thing I noticed is that schools should advocate holistic education which emphasises equally all aspects of education, not just lecture or mental development but also physical and emotional development and all other aspects.
“In order to prepare them to face the world, students should be developed in all aspects,” he said.
Dr Fong also received RM13,000 in cash, a trophy and a certificate.
