Latest news with #Teachers'Day


The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
We will await the report on teacher's reprimand of student
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government is waiting for the full investigation report regarding a student allegedly reprimanded by a teacher at a primary school canteen on April 14. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari stated that the case is under investigation by the Selangor Education Department and any action will be determined only after a thorough inquiry. 'The Education Department is reviewing the matter. We will wait for their report. We need to understand the cause of the incident and the extent of the teacher's anger. 'We cannot immediately penalise the teacher as they may be under pressure from challenging environments. Mutual understanding is essential,' he said after officiating the Selangor Islamic Religious Department Teachers' Day celebration today. The incident gained public attention following the circulation of a 2-minute 32-second video showing a student sobbing while explaining something to a teacher who was scolding her at the school canteen. In response, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek reportedly stated that the ministry will take full responsibility and conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. Fadhlina also expressed regret over the incident, especially given the widespread circulation of the video and its significant impact on the community.

The Star
6 days ago
- The Star
We will await report on teacher;s reprimand of student, says Amirudin
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government is waiting for the full investigation report regarding a student allegedly reprimanded by a teacher at a primary school canteen on April 14. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari stated that the case is under investigation by the Selangor Education Department and any action would be determined only after a thorough inquiry. "The Education Department is reviewing the matter. We will wait for their report. We need to understand the cause of the incident and the extent of the teacher's anger. "We cannot immediately penalise the teacher as they may be under pressure from challenging environments. Mutual understanding is essential,' he said after officiating the Selangor Islamic Religious Department Teachers' Day celebration on Tuesday (May 27). The incident gained public attention following the circulation of a 2-minute 32-second video showing a student sobbing while explaining something to a teacher who was scolding her at the school canteen. In response, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek reportedly stated that the ministry will take full responsibility and conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. Fadhlina also expressed regret over the incident, especially given the widespread circulation of the video and its significant impact on the community.- Bernama

Barnama
21-05-2025
- General
- Barnama
- Teachers As Drivers Of Education Reform: Their Greatest Reward Is Us
Opinions on topical issues from thought leaders, columnists and editors. Behind the humour lies a deeper truth about the teaching profession. Teachers live in quiet sacrifice and steadfast dedication. While the world may honour them once a year, their commitment is lifelong, and their true reward rarely comes wrapped in ribbon. For many teachers, the gifts are more of a necessity than a luxury. Others shared jokingly: 'Please, not another mug. They always end up broken.' Recently, I came across a reflective post by a teacher on a widely used social media platform. The post posed a seemingly simple question to fellow educators: 'What gift do you most appreciate receiving for Teachers' Day?' The comments section was soon filled with a mix of humorous and heartfelt replies, among which suggested practical items like brooches, pens, whiteboard markers, and reams of A4 paper. Teachers are, and have always been, among the most critical architects of society. They lay the foundation upon which knowledge is built, character is shaped, and futures are forged. Every doctor, engineer, policymaker, or community leader once sat before a teacher who guided their journey from uncertainty to understanding. Their influence is immeasurable, not only in the classroom but also in the enduring values and discipline they cultivate in their students. As the late Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad, a prominent Malaysian educationist, stated, 'Education is the way out of poverty and ignorance. And teachers are the ones who open that path.' Teachers Also Wish to Be Remembered Despite their numerous responsibilities, teachers yearn for recognition not by receiving trophies or material presents, but through sincere gestures of gratitude and acknowledgement. A simple message of appreciation, a thoughtful gesture, or a student's kind words can mean far more than any physical gift. According to the 2024 Ministry of Education Malaysia report, over 70 per cent of teachers indicated that moral support from students, parents, and the broader community is their primary source of motivation. In an age of increasing pressures on educators, these small acts of appreciation carry substantial weight. When Hard Work Bears Fruit The recent release of the 2025 SPM results marked not only the achievements of students but also the tireless efforts of teachers who supported them. Improved outcomes among rural students and those with special needs illustrate a broader, more inclusive success story where educators have gone above and beyond to ensure equitable learning opportunities. Equally inspiring are the moral successes emerging from many schools. One of the many widely shared stories tells of a student who treated the school's security guard with profound respect, a reflection of empathy and integrity rarely seen in youth. Such character is not taught through textbooks alone, but shaped through a school culture grounded in ethics, often modelled by teachers themselves. Teachers and the Reform Agenda 'Teachers as Drivers of Education Reform', the theme of this year's Teachers' Day celebration, is both timely and significant. In the face of rapid social change and technological advancement, teachers are knowledge facilitators and agents of change. They play a vital role in implementing educational reform, adapting curricula, integrating digital tools, and fostering critical and creative thinking. Nelson Mandela once remarked, 'Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.' Yet the power of education can only be realised through the hands of capable, resilient, and forward-thinking teachers. Teachers play a vital role in preparing students to face challenges with confidence and empathy. Ultimately, the greatest gift we can offer our teachers is not found in tangible form, but in who we become: responsible and thoughtful individuals who uphold the values they imparted. To all educators, your legacy lives on in your students' success, kindness, and integrity. As we celebrate this Teachers' Day, let us not simply offer words but renew our collective support for your invaluable role in national development. Your dedication is the cornerstone of a brighter future, and your influence resonates through generations. Happy Teachers' Day. May you continue to inspire, lead, and transform lives. -- BERNAMA Assoc Prof Dr Sazuliana Sanif is Deputy Dean (Academic & Students), Centre for Language Studies (CLS), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM).


Malay Mail
20-05-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Double duty, one heart: Celebrating teacher-mums on Teachers' Day — Azwatee Abdul Aziz
MAY 20 — As the echoes of Mother's Day tributes still linger in our hearts — breakfast in bed, handmade cards, and the annual outpouring of love — another equally important day arrives: Teachers' Day. While these celebrations may seem distinct on the surface, they share a deeper connection than most realise, especially when embodied in the figure of the working mother who is also a teacher. She is the one grading papers after bedtime stories. She's juggling lesson plans while packing lunch boxes. She's teaching the ABCs at school and life lessons at home. This Teachers' Day, it's time we shine a spotlight on these everyday superheroes — the teacher-mums — who are shaping futures on multiple fronts. In 2024, more than 70 per cent of women with school-aged children are active in the workforce, and teaching remains one of the most common professions among them. Globally, women make up over 80 per cent of primary school teachers, as highlighted in Unesco's 2023 report on gender dynamics in education. Many of these women are mothers, performing a double shift that merges nurturing at home with mentoring in the classroom. Consider the experience of a typical Malaysian teacher who is also a mother. After spending eight hours guiding students in the classroom, she returns home to continue her role — though the responsibilities may shift, the essence remains the same. Whether nurturing her students or raising her own children, her goal is constant: to help them grow into kind, smart, and independent individuals. Like countless teacher-moms across the country, she juggles syllabi and snack boxes, exam papers and bedtime stories — never quite clocking out, always giving, always nurturing. The mental load of being a teacher and a mum Motherhood is already a full-time job. Add teaching into the mix, and the hours in a day suddenly seem insufficient. A 2022 study by Carver and colleagues revealed that women in education experience significantly higher levels of burnout than their male counterparts, as well as women in other fields. The emotional labor they perform both at home and at school is immense — and often goes unnoticed. Furthermore, a 2023 study by Thompson et al. found that female teachers with young children were 40 per cent more likely to experience chronic stress compared to those without children. These women frequently juggle grading, lesson planning, parent communication, and domestic responsibilities all in a single day — a mental load that wears them down without visible scars. While the pandemic may feel like it's behind us, the impact on teacher-mums still lingers. When schools went online, living rooms became classrooms, and educators had to teach virtual lessons while supervising their own children's learning at home. According to a 2024 meta-analysis by Jain and colleagues, female teachers bore the brunt of remote education, experiencing significant levels of emotional exhaustion and professional dissatisfaction — a burden that led many to consider leaving the profession altogether. And while frontline workers were applauded globally, teacher-mums quietly carried the weight of two worlds, often without the recognition they deserved. As we celebrate Teachers' Day, we must acknowledge that the act of teaching extends far beyond the walls of a school. Decades of educational research, including a recent meta-analysis by Fan and Chen in 2024, have shown that parental involvement is one of the strongest predictors of student success — even more influential than family income or school resources. Teacher-mums, therefore, carry a unique dual role: not only do they educate their own children at home, they also invest in the growth and development of dozens of others in their classrooms. This double impact is immeasurable — and often invisible. As we celebrate Teachers' Day, we must acknowledge that the act of teaching extends far beyond the walls of a school. — Picture from X Bridging the appreciation gap Gifts and thank-you cards are a wonderful gesture, but what working mothers in education truly need are policies that match the scale of their contribution. Affordable childcare, flexible work schedules, mental health services, and family-friendly school policies are not extras — they are essential. Without these supports, we risk seeing more teacher-mums burned out and walking away. As highlighted in several recent studies, institutional reform — not just annual celebration — is the only way to truly honor the value of these women. In many ways, the teacher-mum is the ultimate multitasker: equal parts nurturer, mentor, disciplinarian, friend, and guide. Her day begins before the sun and often stretches into late night lesson prep. She is correcting math homework with one hand and soothing a fevered forehead with the other. She is shaping minds in her classroom and shaping hearts at her dinner table. This Teachers' Day let's celebrate all educators — but let's also specifically honour those who are shaping lives in and out of the classroom. To every working mother who teaches, guides, comforts, and uplifts: thank you. You are not just teaching children how to read and write. You are teaching the world how to care. Happy Teachers' Day! • Azwatee Abdul Aziz is an associate professor at the Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, and may be reached at [email protected] ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.


Time of India
18-05-2025
- Time of India
Man sentenced to 10yrs RI for minor rape bid
Itanagar: A special court in Arunachal Pradesh's Yupia sentenced one Sarul Jamal (27) to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for attempting to rape a minor girl in 2022. The sentence was pronounced by special judge (POCSO), Yupia, Dr Hirendra Kashyap, under Section 376(3)/511 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), read with Section 4(2)/18 of the POCSO Act . The convict has also been slapped with a fine of Rs 10,000, pending which he will have to undergo an additional one month of imprisonment. The incident, which took place on Sept 5, 2022, unfolded when the girl, who was returning home after a Teachers' Day celebrations at her school, noticed two men smoking by the roadside. As she continued on her way, one of them began to follow her. Nearing a jungle area, the minor was suddenly confronted by the man, who asked her to "understand his feelings". He then grabbed her, before pushing her to the ground and gagging her. He allegedly held her by the neck and called out to his companion to come closer. Putting up a strong resistance against her attacker, the minor screamed for help and managed to break free. She ran home and narrated her ordeal to her uncle. Her elder brother filed an FIR. Acting on it, the Itanagar women police station registered a case under Sections 354/34 of the IPC, read with Section 8 of POCSO Act. As per the court order, although the offence fell under the category of "attempt to commit rape", the punishment applicable — being one-half of the maximum prescribed sentence — was determined in accordance with Sections 511 IPC and 18 of the POCSO Act. Since the punishment for rape of a child under 16 (under Section 376(3) IPC and Section 4(2) POCSO) is life imprisonment, the court sentenced the convict to half that term, i.e., 10 years, as per Section 57 of IPC, which treats life imprisonment as equivalent to 20 years for sentencing calculations.