KUALA LUMPUR: Former teacher with more than 60 years of experience in the field lauds the recent move by the government to set up the special education channel DidikTV.
Datuk Anthony Reynolds Peter, 82, said he firmly believed that such an initiative was commendable as it allowed students to resume studies, especially those who could participate in home-based teaching and learning (PdPR).
"It can not only supplement, but also enhance PdPR through careful preparation and execution.
"This ensures that the education and teaching can truly reach and have the desired impact and effect on as many children as possible.
"So for me, such an initiative and effort by the government and the Education Ministry is commendable because not every Malaysian family or household has Internet access, smartphones, gadgets, desktop computers or laptops," he said recently.
"The government and the Education Ministry are trying their level best to do what is right by the students.
"DidikTV is a means to make learning available to all because it has a wider reach compared with online learning."
Peter, who retired as the principal of SM Stella Maris, Kuala Lumpur, at the age of 80 in 2018, said unlike the TV Pendidikan channel of old, DidikTV should provide a more wholesome learning experience as it would have education programmes focusing on core learning subjects.
With this in mind, he pointed out that teachers still played a pivotal role and that they carried a heavy burden in adapting to the current learning and teaching dynamics.
"It will be even tougher on teachers, who not only have to carry on doing online classes, but also those who will be involved either directly or indirectly with DidikTV.
"Teaching encompasses various different tasks and responsibilities, so this will be an added scope to their already long list of duties, and remember that teachers are human beings, too.
"I hope that despite all the pressure and weight of expectations, the teachers can persevere and step up to teach to the best of their abilities.
"Parents, too, have to play their part and monitor their children's learning progress.
"Children will be children, so they have to be supervised by the parents, especially when having to remain indoors for such a long time."
Peter graduated in teachers' training from Brinsford Lodge in 1959 together with his wife of more than 60 years, Datin Theresa Jane Peter.
He was awarded Malaysia's highest teaching honour, the Tokoh Guru Kebangsaan award, in 1995.