By Satwant Singh

Some educators made our learning memorable whether in schools, colleges or universities.

They made us look forward to each day in school or campus. But they had one element in them – passion.

They were colour-blind. The race or religion of the student did not matter, and they shared knowledge that in some ways left a mark or memory that we still behold.

I too had one educator that merits a mention here – Dr Mus Chairil Samani from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), who later joined UNIMAS and retired a few years ago. He was also the former Utusan Malaysia bureau chief for Malacca.

Firm yet flexible and with empathy, he thought us to think critically including on our politicians.

One that still rings in the mind is on calling our elected Members of Parliament as Yang Berkhidmat rather than Yang Berhormat back in the 1990s.

Many like him performed roles beyond educators.

However, some perceive the job of an educator as easy. I bumped into a person sometime back who said that she too wanted to become a lecturer.

But her reason (or rather misguided perception) was that the job of a lecturer was easy and that was why she wanted to become one.

However, unknown to her and many others, a job of an educator is no easy task.

Educators are not “entertainers” as a friend once pointed out but keeping students’ attention and interest can be challenging.

Educators need to be critical to educate these young minds, who have a thirst not only for knowledge but also of doing the right things and standing up for what they believe in.

I remember a student from Sabah asking me whether she should join the Bersih rally a few years ago.

Students at all levels look up to educators – thus teachers, tutors, lecturers have a social responsibility to these young minds.

Educators must remember that they are educating the future generations, including the people who would become leaders.

They must inspire criticality among their students in all aspects – on nation-building, democracy, the right to question and to respect dissenting voices.

But only educators with passion and a sense of responsibility, and at the same time colour-blind could impart such values.

The writer is an academician with a local private university and ex-journalist who believes that Malaysians should look for common grounds that bind them rather than the differences that set them apart.