Be creative, innovative when educating students – director
TAMBUNAN: State Education Department director Datuk Hajah Maimunah Suhaibul said it is time for teachers to be the creative and innovative generator in their efforts to educate students.
She said this is very important as the country is moving towards a developed nation era where the country’s economic growth needs to be driven by people’s innovation.
“Our education system should play a very dominant role in generating and driving the people’s innovation power as a preparation for global competition, especially in the increasingly fierce and challenging economic evolution of this century,” she said in the text of her speech read by her representative, Rosli Maaruf, at the ‘Leaders Together with Educators’ event held in conjunction with the District Education Office Teachers’ Day, Excellent Service Award, Jasamu Dikenang and Hari Raya Aidilfitri events held at Pisompuruan Square here on Saturday.
The event was officiated by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Development, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
From that point, she said the government through the Ministry of Education took the initiative to drastically transform the national education system through the Malaysia Education Development Plan which emphasized on the element of creativity and innovation, and its impact, the High Level Thinking Skills (KBAT), has been implemented in schools comprising seven elements pedagogic, curriculum, resource, assessment, community support, co-curriculum and building a teacher efforts.
She said KBAT in the classroom was reinforced through the iThink program, which helps the schools to develop thinking skills, cultivate lifelong learning culture, skills in problem solving and creative accessible learning among students.
Pairin in his speech pointed out that the teaching profession is a manifestation of the commitment and deep concern of educators towards the development of education in this country.
He said educators should be grateful to the government for its concern over the development of the education sector, which has always been provided a high annual budget to ensure every aspiration, agenda and various educational programs planned are implemented.
“Therefore, I am confident that teachers in Malaysia will always appreciate the government’s aspirations and concerns to further support the government’s pure aspirations to make the country a developed nation by 2020,” he said.
He said as teachers who have always been committed to this profession, they would definitely renew the pledge and determination to use all their energy and capabilities in order to develop a united Malaysia that is cultured, intelligent, noble and respected worldwide.
Pairin, who is also Infrastructure Development Minister said in other words, the Teacher’s Day theme, ‘Guru Pembina Negara Bangsa’, demands that all Malaysian teachers aspire to develop a worldclass quality education system as intended in the Malaysia Education Development Plan (PPPM) 2013-2025.
Former Tambunan District Education Officer Haji Kaipin Haji Rusmin was selected as the Tambunan District Tokoh Guru Award recipient 2017 which was presented by Pairin.
At the event, Pairin also gave the 2016 Excellent Service Award to 86 educators and the Jasamu Dikenang Award to 24 retiree teachers.