Educators in Malaysia have been recognized for their pivotal role in nurturing and unleashing the nation’s potential. Their consistent dedication in molding and guiding the future generation is crucial. Today, PEMIMPIN GSL has unveiled the Top 10 Finalists for the Malaysia Teacher Prize 2023, marking its second year of honoring the teaching profession. This initiative acknowledges the profound influence teachers wield in shaping young Malaysians into lifelong learners and potential leaders of tomorrow.
PEMIMPIN GSL is a dedicated organization with a primary focus on delivering top-notch leadership training rooted in evidence for educators and school administrators in government schools throughout Malaysia. Since its inception in 2017, this organization has collaborated with more than 1,800 schools across the country, benefiting over 3,200 teachers.
PEMIMPIN offers a range of programs tailored to address the unique requirements of school leaders, middle-level leaders, and teacher leaders, ensuring that they receive targeted and effective training. PEMIMPIN GSL receives funding from various corporate organisations, including YTL Foundation, ECM Libra Foundation, Yayasan Sime Darby and Yayasan Hasanah.
As the Malaysia Teacher Prize 2023 moves towards its final stages of identifying and rewarding some of the nation’s most powerful educators, we are thrilled to have narrowed down this year’s Top 10 Finalists from a pool of over 2000 applications received from all 16 states and federal territories nationwide,” said CEO of PEMIMPIN GSL, Cheryl Ann Fernando. These Finalists represent some of the most inspiring work that we have seen thus far in the Malaysian education sector and it is our deepest hope that the recognition afforded by the prize will spur ever more educators to go above and beyond in serving their students and the communities in which they live and work.
In 2023, the Malaysia Teacher Prize will grant a generous cash award of RM 50,000 to its top Winner. Additionally, the Top 5 Finalists will each be honored with RM 5,000. The sponsorship for this year’s Prize is graciously provided by YTL Foundation, Yayasan Hasanah, and ECM Libra Foundation. Beyond the monetary rewards, all of the Top 10 Finalists will have the opportunity to join in in professional development workshops aimed at enhancing their capacity to make a broader and more significant impact, extending beyond their local communities.
The announcement of this year’s Prize Winner and the Top 5 Finalists will take place during the Malaysia Teacher Prize Summit and Award Ceremony, scheduled for November 4th and 5th, 2023, at the Sime Darby Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur. Over the course of this two-day summit, the remarkable contributions and achievements of these teachers will be highlighted. Distinguished speakers, including Samuel Isaiah (Co-founder of the Malaysia Teacher Prize), Anuthra Sirisena (the 2020 Malaysia Teacher Prize Winner), and several industry experts, will be featured during the event, providing valuable insights and perspectives.
Malaysia Teacher Prize Top 10 Finalist Highlights
Cikgu Zul Afida Abdullah, Design and Technology, SMK Dato’ Ahmad Maher, Kelantan
Zul Afida is the Master Trainer of the Design and Technology Panel (Reka Bentuk dan Teknologi) whose primary approach in the classroom is called “Kaedah Just Upgrade It” (KJUI). The name of her STEM approach believed to bring the potential of every student by upgrading their capabilities to reach greater heights in order to face the new challenges in problem solving. Through KJUI, she provides a differentiated approach to her students by collaborating with the community or external officers to support students in enhancing their products.
2. Cikgu Sadheeshkumar @ Kuang Leong Yee, Mathematics, SJKT Bestari Jaya, Selangor
Sadheeshkumar is a dedicated Mathematics educator who specializes in assisting students attending Tamil vernacular schools. He has undertaken several action research initiatives, with a particular emphasis fundamental mathematical concepts, including his patented “Number Sense Kit.” His teaching practices proved effective as he successfully increased his school’s UPSR Mathematics results by 25% to a full passing rate in 2004 until 2019. His innovative approach also earned him the prestigious Gold Award at the state, national, and international levels. Finally, he also uploaded over 200 videos on his YouTube channel to teach Mathematics and Chinese Language using Tamil.
3. Cikgu Kathiresan Moorthy, Physical Education, SK Mahmud, Pahang
Kathiresan is a creative educator who has devised numerous approaches to enhance his teaching methods. For example, he created a teaching aid called “Tapak Kaki Kathi” from recycled materials to support his students in their footwork for netball and engage his students more effectively. As a result, 8 of his students were able to advance to state-level competitions. Additionally, Kathiresan takes an active role in mentoring and guiding fellow educators on crafting their own contextualised innovations for classroom use.
4. Cikgu Khou Jerome, Mathematics, SJKC Union, Pulau Pinang
Jerome is a steadfast teacher who ardently works in the field of Education for Sustainable Development(ESD). In his classroom, Jerome seamlessly incorporates sustainability principles through a variety of activities, spanning from computations related to electricity expenses to the utilization of Microbit for automated plant watering.
In 2021, he joined forces with like-minded educators from different schools who share his passion for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and co-established a non-governmental organization (NGO) known as the Green Educator’s Workgroup (GREW). This NGO is dedicated to promoting ESD and raising awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among schools in Penang. Under tenure as GREW’s President, they have organised more than 50 activities or programs related to ESD and have benefited more than 10,000 students.
5. Dr Zuridah Hanim Bt Md Akhir, Media and Library Teacher, SMK Sultan Bahiyah Kedah
Dr. Zuridah is an enthusiastic Media and Library teacher who uses her position to enhance literacy skills and instill a culture of reading among her students. Moreover, she imparts her knowledge to school librarians, not only ensuring their efficient performance but also equipping them with the ability to train librarians in more than 30 other schools in the state of Kedah. Beyond her influence on students, she actively assumes a leadership role within the Media and Library Teachers community. She is also a co-founder of the Organisation of Malaysian Library and Media Teachers (PGPMM), which coordinates colloquiums, seminars, and monthly webinars aimed at providing support and guidance to fellow educators.
6. Cikgu Stefanus Lucas, Music Education (Special Needs), SK Pendidikan Khas Tuaran, Sabah
Stefanus is an innovative music teacher who anchors on the principle of ‘Focus on Ability, not Disability’ in his work with students with special needs. He pioneered the ‘Suara Kami @ Our Voices’ project which focuses on communication and performance skills, empowering his students to express themselves confidently. To bridge the gap for his students who are visually impaired, Stefanus also creates new teaching aids from recycle materials such as egg cartons to make the experience of learning musical notes more engaging and accessible. The school ensemble has received multiple accolades such as a silver diploma from the ‘XIV European Championship of Folklore’ & ‘Euro folk 2022’ and first prize at the USA World Music International Competition in 2021.
7. Cikgu Ahmad Shahrul Azhan Bin Ibrahim, English, SMK Long Ghafar 2, Kelantan
Commonly recognized as Sir Asai, Shahrul is a teacher who actively harnesses the influence of social media ignite his students’ passion for learning English. Even before gaining widespread recognition, Shahrul had already established himself as an outstanding English teacher, as evidenced by his school consistently improving its SPM English results over the past 5 years. He frequently serves as a speaker, guiding students on how to excel in their exams and offering advice to fellow educators on creating educational content through social media channels. With an impressive following of 1.2 million on TikTok, Shahrul has undeniably brought education to the forefront of public awareness.
8. Cikgu Jumisara Chamili, Islamic Studies, SK Bandar, Johor
Jumisara is a dedicated Islamic Studies instructor who goes to great lengths to ensure her students achieve fluency in reading and writing Jawi, a crucial skill for reciting the Al-Quran. In pursuit of this goal, she introduced an innovative approach known as HIJAAQ, which effectively addresses common challenges her students face, such as the connection and disconnection of Jawi characters and the correlation between Roman alphabets and Jawi script. Beyond her classroom commitments, Jumisara initiated the ‘Kumpulan Ibu Sayang Sekolah (KISS)’ in 2018. This group offers valuable support to parents and guardians in assisting their children with their education. Additionally, it promotes the importance of self-care and strives to create additional income-generating opportunities for its members.
9. Cikgu Muhammad Nazmi, English, SK Long Sebangang, Sarawak
Nazmi is an enthusiastic teacher dedicated to ensuring that his students from rural areas have access to the opportunities they rightfully deserve. He goes above and beyond by offering his students hands-on exposure to real-world experiences they might not have encountered before, such as visiting a laundromat or boarding an airplane. This immersive classroom experience is known as the “Danger Room.” Beyond the confines of traditional education, Nazmi took the initiative to establish the Filpen Club, providing students with a creative outlet for self-expression through the art of filmmaking. Through this club, they have successfully conceptualized, produced, and marketed their own short films, with one of their works, “Teether,” even earning recognition and acceptance at the Horror-Unleashed-Film-Festival in Portugal.
10. Cikgu Mohamad Safuan Rozak, Science, SK Jengka Pusat 2, Pahang
Recognizing the importance of assisting his students in both retaining and comprehending scientific knowledge while also enhancing the overall enjoyment of the educational process, Safuan embarked on a mission to develop science-themed parody songs. These songs were designed to seamlessly integrate into any part of a science lesson. The success of this strategy is evident in the heightened enthusiasm and participation of his students during class, as well as their improved academic achievements. To date, Safuan’s YouTube Channel boasts an impressive collection of over 650 videos, attracting nearly 20,000 subscribers and accumulating an impressive total of 2 million views.
Malaysians keen on getting up close and personal with the Top 10 Finalists can get the opportunity to do so by purchasing tickets for the event online at Ticket2u. For more information about the Malaysia Teacher Prize, click here.
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