Teacher soldiers on despite tiger, landslide risks
BACHOK: Teacher Mohammad Irfan Mustaqim Ariffin travels more than 40km every day from his rented house to SK Pos Musoh LZ in Tapah, Perak.
Besides the long commute, muddy roads and the threat of landslides on his way to school, he also has to deal with his anxiety of potentially running into wildlife, such as tigers.
However, the 30-year-old does not mind these difficulties.
He teaches Bahasa Melayu and Physical Education to Orang Asli pupils at the school.
Yesterday, Irfan’s preseverance in his duties was recognised with a Guru Gigih Pendalaman (persistent interior teacher) award.
Irfan said he was grateful for the award and thanked the Education Ministry and his school for their support.
“I have been teaching at the Orang
Asli school since 2017.
“There are 10 or 12 teachers in the convoy to school, and we will pass an area near the jungle every day.
“For me, the risks of landslides or bumping into a tiger are what I fear the most, but praise to God, they have not happened.”
Irfan received RM5,000, a certificate and a plaque.
He said he would use the money to buy teaching materials to enable the Orang Asli pupils to study like their peers in urban schools.
Twenty-seven teachers from all over the country received awards yesterday at an event in Universti Malaysia Kelantan here in conjunction with Teachers Day.
Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin presented the awards, which consisted of cash, certificates
and plaques.
The awards were for Guru Ikon (iconic teacher), Guru Inovatif (innovative teacher), Cikgu Juara Digital (digital champion teacher), Anugerah Khas Pendidikan (special teaching award) and Guru Cemerlang (excellent teacher).
Adilah Mansor, 43, who teaches at SK Seri Ketereh in Kelantan, won the Cikgu Juara Digital award.
She won digital-maker hub equipment and a laptop worth RM15,000.
Adilah said she would use the equipment to make her classes more cheerful.
“I have been using my iPad to teach
my 25 pupils. I taught them using technology as I wanted to make studying more attractive to them.
“Most of my pupils are 6 years old and not familiar with digital technology.
“I plan to renovate my class soon and if possible, will buy a drone to make their learning more exciting,” she said.
The mother of two from Pasir Mas, Kelantan has been teaching for 17 years.
She believes that good teaching methods produce excellent students.
Komath Veerasingham, who teaches chemistry at SM Ave Maria Convent in Ipoh, Perak, attributed her success to
the support of her family, students and colleagues.
The 38-year-old mother of three won the Anugerah Ikon Guru Inovasi PdPR award.
“I did not expect to win an award and I am blessed with the recognition of the Education Ministry.
“My students are my inspiration and I have been teaching them with all my heart.
“I do not mind spending time to teach them at home.
“For me, success is to see them develop using digital technology.”