Many may recognise Oct 5 as the day the world celebrates teachers — the date World Teachers Day is commemorated. Yet, many countries celebrate teachers on different days. Malaysia celebrates Teachers Day today and annually on May 16.
Why? Simply because on that date in 1956, as Malaya moved towards independence, the Federal Legislative Assembly formally endorsed the Razak Report, named after Datuk Abdul Razak Hussein, Malaya's first education minister who would later become Malaysia's second prime minister.
The Razak Report would be pivotal in providing the framework for the fledgling nation's education system. When the report was being prepared, however, those who drafted it would never have envisioned what would happen nearly seven decades later.
When Covid-19 invaded our lives, teachers were given little notice — and little training — to shift to distance learning or e-learning. Almost overnight, the pandemic forced a sweeping switch to remote teaching and learning that many thought would only be temporary.
In most cases, they had 48 hours or a weekend to reinvent lessons for an already planned curriculum, learn new technologies, find non-technology solutions to student learning and figure out how to keep students engaged. With unconventional schedules and Zoom rooms, teachers have had to adapt to the situation. Some are still adapting.
We may not be aware of their hardship. How could we, unless we are teachers and educators ourselves? We have seen tweets, posts and photos on social media. There is scant praise for them. They are criticised, sometimes scathingly, for their inability to cope with the changes.
Little thought is given to the challenges they face. It is difficult keeping students engaged even in a physical setting, what more online. That requires a very different skillset. There are also the accustomed elements, laboratory work for instance, which cannot be done in a non-physical setting.
Worldwide, governments have started bringing students back to school. Malaysia started to this year, but then had to put schools on hold again when Covid-19 cases spiked. Yet again, our teachers have had to adapt.
There are enormous logistical and pedagogical challenges to solve. Appreciating teachers and educators in this time of pandemic takes on a new meaning. One of the best ways to appreciate them is to not forget the "Covid-19" experience and all it has put us through.
This Teachers Day, then, would be a good time to value teachers as professionals, to show them our appreciation.
The government may want to involve more educators in planning, decision-making, engagement and communications strategies where education is concerned. After all, would they not know best? Getting younger teachers involved may also be a good idea.
Our education system needs robust virtual learning plans, professional development for teachers on remote teaching and learning, and time spent adjusting to the curriculum. All these should involve teachers and educators.
A younger generation of teachers could provide valuable insight. They would know the best ways to adjust the curriculum and how to help students be and feel safe. Months from now, assuming we have resumed "normal" school again, let's put this greater understanding of the value of educators to work by rethinking the policies and practices that affect them.