Training the ideal teacher
I LOVED every minute of school even though caning was a form of punishment then.
Former Education director-general Tan Sri Dr Wan Mohd Zahid Mohd Noordin is in his late 70s, but the SP Setia chairman recalls the details of his schooling years vividly.
Caning, he said, was never meant to shame or to hurt. It was a symbolic act to show that the student had committed a serious offence. Similarly, counselling was always constructive, not humiliating. Teachers never turned a blind eye if there was a problem. They nipped it in the bud. This helped us to survive challenges of the working world, he said.
“My teachers weren’t angels. Some were harsh but their agenda was noble. I’ve had fierce teachers with loud, booming voices that could shake the ground you walk on. I’ve had kind, soft spoken ones too.
“The one thing they all have in common is that they always put their charges first, and take the trouble to explain why what we did was wrong. They made sure that we understood our lessons. When I was having difficulties with a certain subject, my teacher patiently said: ‘If you don’t understand, it’s because I’m stupid. Not you.’
“My teachers had a heart of gold and they always had time for us. They are my idols. They taught us to respect our elders and the environment, to count our blessings, to not be wasteful, to work hard for excellence, and to regard each other like brothers regardless of our race or religion. These guiding principles made us responsible citizens.”
He credits much of his success to his teachers, sharing how the values they instilled have stayed with him till this day. Teaching to them was an enjoyable vocation, not a burden. They made learning fun and less intimidating.
“There are two ways to approach a subject - the theoretical, data-driven method, and through narrative, hands-on-experience. I prefer the latter because it involves anecdotes, feelings, and attitudes.”
Dr Wan Zahid was speaking about the ‘ideal teacher’ at a teacher-training forum co-organised by the Universiti Malaya (UM) Faculty of Education, Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia (IPGM) and the Malayan Teachers’ Training College (MTTC) Kirkby alumni association. The forum was held at the faculty last Saturday.
MTTC Kirkby alumni Dr Mohamed Thalha who spoke on how teachers were trained then, shared how heartwarming it is when students’ offer their gratitude.
“Those we’ve taught have gone on to hold high positions with titles to their names. It means so much when they come back and say: ‘Thank you, we are here today because of the English you taught us’.”
Besides English, those who went to MTTC Kirkby were trained to always be sincere in everything they did, to be self-reliant, and to get along with people from different backgrounds.
“We in turn, shared these lessons with our students and the school system. A good teacher is someone who utilises as many senses as possible to ensure effective learning. I know of a teacher who used balloons to help students learn the alphabets. The pronunciation of the letter ‘T’ is correct when air comes out of the mouth and the balloon moves.”
Noble profession
Faculty of Education dean Prof Dr Rohaida Mohd Saat who spoke about the role of UM in teacher-training, said teachers must be trained as holistic individuals. That’s why research, community engagements, and human capital and professional development are embedded into teacher education.
“We’ve a very good education blueprint and philosophy that emphasises on skill development.”
IPGM acting rector Dr Rusmini Ku Ahmad, who spoke about teacher-training today, said the MTTC was set up in Kirkby, Liverpool, to fill the vacancy of teachers in the country’s Englishmedium schools after World War II. From 1951 to 1962, 1,500 teachers and over 400 teacher trainers were produced.
Sharing IPGM’s history, she said it was established in 2005, and has 27 campuses offering 21 courses nationwide.
Graduates are awarded a teaching degree in their specific subjects upon completion of the programme.
“We have over 3,000 academic staff and more than 13,000 trainees. Recent changes to the intake requirement meant that we could recruit from the top 20% of the SPM cohort.
“The Education Ministry aims to transform IPGM into a worldclass teacher-training institution by strengthening delivery, and earning international recognition.”
The IPGM transformation plan is now in its second phase.
From 2018 to 2020, IPGM will focus on stabilising and realigning campuses and its organisation, improve research output, complete infrastructure upgrade, and work towards national recognition.
Under phase three, which runs from 2021 to 2025, the task will be to strengthen the campuses, launch post-graduate programmes, establish global research partnerships, and set up research centres, with the aim of global recognition.
MTTC Kirkby alumni president Datuk V.L Kandan is planning to present a proposal to the Government for “able and willing” retired teachers from Kirkby, and Brinsford Lodge - another training college in Wolverhampton, to join local schools and universities.
“At the moment, red tape is a problem.
“We hope that the re-hiring of retired teachers can become a policy so that we can continue to contribute.”
Dr Mohamed called for the institutionalisation of values in schools.
“Family, religious and cultural values, must be inculcated,” he said, adding that educators must deliver education that’s in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
One of our biggest mistakes is that we announce policies before adequately training those who implement them, he said.
The emphasis now must be on self-learning as teachers become facilitators.
Students go online and get their information. We need teachers who can guide and facilitate discussions, he said.