If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel that there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are father, mother and teacher.
– A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Indian aerospace scientist and statesman
Tomorrow is Teachers’ Day and we pay tribute to educators as moulders of society and nation builders. They develop students into individuals of moral standards, integrity and noble values. They mould present generations into future leaders.
While teaching is their main task, educators have a vital role in promoting unity and religious understanding in schools. In fact unity and understanding start right in school.
Our country is going through a difficult phase; we can’t go on pretending that everything is okay. Hence all the more reason why the role of teachers is so important now.
Teachers are the best ‘tool’ to counter forces, especially those politicians who are bent on creating chaos by causing racial disharmony and religious misunderstanding. I was having roti canai and teh tarik with a Sarawak MP who flew in to Kuala Lumpur for the Unity Government National Convention yesterday afternoon when we broached the topic of teachers.
In a nutshell, both of us agreed that teachers are an effective barrier to put disruptive politicians in their tracks. Meaning, educators play a crucial role in keeping the younger generation away from the evil clutches of racial and religious bigots.
In these days of a dog-eat-dog society, modern parents are so preoccupied with making money or rather struggling to make ends meet that they rely heavily on teachers to help ‘raise their children’.
During our days, the role of teachers was confined to teaching and imparting knowledge. This isn’t the situation any longer; without them asking, the added heavy responsibility of ‘looking after’ someone else’s children is pushed to them.
Though most teachers may not be complaining, the added responsibility applies more pressure on them. No wonder we hear of frequent cases of teachers going through a nervous breakdown.
One of the best quotes that I have come across that pays homage to teachers is from Guy Kawasaki, leading American marketing specialist and author, who said, “If you have to put someone on a pedestal, put teachers. They are society’s heroes.”
He couldn’t have said it better. Who else fits the bill as a hero better than a teacher? An educator’s duties go beyond formal teaching. A teacher supervises the students’ extracurricular activities and on top of that, outside of the classroom they have to accompany students on field trips.
And if these duties are not enough, they also act as ‘bodyguards’ to protect students from being bullied, abused or sexually harassed. The poor teachers are also responsible for student discipline.
Where are the parents? What are their roles? Sometimes I just can’t understand society! Parents produce children, teachers take care of them!
About time, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government looked into adequately rewarding our overworked and overburdened teachers. We don’t want to see our teachers driven up the wall and taking drastic action like planning a strike as has happened to other professions.
Recently, media reports said British students and parents could again face disruption as educators in England plan another strike. Teachers have organised several strikes in Britain so far this year.
The overworked teachers are demanding better perks, pay and working conditions.
Fortunately, teachers in this country are level-headed and are not thinking of doing anything like their British counterparts. At least not yet.
The Education Ministry will have to carry out a nationwide survey, including in Sarawak and Sabah, on the issues affecting our educators and from the survey findings, the government can come out with a blueprint to effectively tackle their problems and grievances.
Enough of preaching and cajoling. The least our leaders can do to repay the efforts of the teachers who moulded them into what they are today is to look into their plight and alleviate their burden.
The government should particularly address the problems of Malayan teachers sent to teach in the rural areas of the East Malaysian states. We have been hearing and reading of promises made by the Education Ministry, yet no effective solutions have been forthcoming to resolve the problems of these young teachers.
Lack of proper living quarters, water supply, internet connectivity, etc, are the main issues facing Malayan teachers who have to displace themselves from their home states to teach in East Malaysia.
Before ending, I would like to pay tribute to my former science teacher, Mr Lokanathan, who passed on last April 23.
I am indeed saddened to hear of his passing. He paid particularly attention to me as I was the weakest in science subjects in his class. He taught us Integrated Science. I still recall getting slapped and caned for failing his subjects.
Nevertheless, I managed to scrape through the science papers in my Senior Cambridge. Thank you, Sir.
He was a good man. May his soul rests in peace.
And to all teachers, you are my champions – my heroes. Have a great Teachers’ Day celebration!
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
