JOHOR BAHRU: The term “frontliners” is a new one being used to describe the courageous people in the forefront of the battle to care for victims of the scourge besetting the world.

But one may see the term as a more befitting description of the people who are first in line in the fight against the manifold miseries that stem from lack of education.

These “frontliners” are teachers in whose care young minds and characters are moulded to keep illiteracy at bay and prepare an educated citizenry for the tasks of running society.

May 16 is a special day when these “frontliners” are recognized and honoured by their pupils and by society at large for the vital role they play.

“Teachers’ Day” for many schools in Johor has always been marked as a day of remembrance with activities that leave teachers in no doubt of their significance to society.

In most schools celebrations were held to allow students to thank their teachers for having moulded them into good individuals and for their untiring efforts to educate them.

It is a day when the value of being a teacher is truly felt and experienced, considering how Teachers’ Day is celebrated at all levels, be it at the national, state, district or school.

Apa Khabar TV spoke to six school principals and a retired excellent principal on how important the teaching profession is.

Principal of SMK Seri Perling Woo Lee Fang said Teachers’ Day is a day to remind us of how important the teaching profession is.

She said interviews with prominent educationists are conducted, and long speeches made during which the objectives and goals of the National Education Blueprint – the mission statement for national education – are highlighted.

“Familiar words and phrases leap up, extolling the vital role of the teacher in shaping young vulnerable minds,” she said.

She mentioned that on this day we are once again reminded that we are the “lighter of fires”. “the ever-burning candle”, the “ones who lay the foundation”.

“Words that strike a chord in our hearts, sometimes touching places where only the smouldering ashes of fires that burned in our teaching soul so long ago, remain,” she said.

Rostena Ismail, principal of SMK Skudai stressed that teachers play a crucial role in the development of society.

She said teachers provide a tremendous contribution to society and hence, must always be held in high regard.

Teachers’ role in the education, she says, is pivotal and they are virtually the yardstick that decides the quality of the education system.

“Teachers help transform students into good human beings with a positive attitude and the motivation to pursue excellence. The future of our entire generation depends on teachers,” she explained.

She went on to say that if they are corrupt, unprofessional and unethical, then the entire generation may result in the same, which leads to a chaotic and deplorable society.

Sharifah Junaidah Syed Abdul Rahman, principal of SMK (P) Sultan Ibrahim (SIGS) feels that teaching is a passion and a dream.

She said becoming a teacher does not mean an exchange for money or to be praised by others; becoming a teacher means faith.

For Sharifah being a teacher is to develop youths from their own world into the real world. It is also a challenge of being a teacher.

“Teaching is rated as the most respected profession. The teaching profession needs to be entrusted with the responsibility to develop a national system,” she remarked.

Teaching, she says, is not only a matter of methodology but perfecting an understanding between teacher and student. A teacher should be able to bridge the gap between him and his students.

“If one loves his job, he will excel in it and succeed. Becoming a school teacher can be very rewarding profession, but it is not as easy as everyone thinks,” she said.

For Hairuniza Mohsin, principal of SMK Sultanah Engku Tun Aminah (SETA) feels that it is the teacher’s duty to promote love of his subject among his or her students.

She said he will do by first of all loving the subject himself. His enthusiasm and love for his subject will catch on with his or her students and if they learn to love a subject, they can learn it better.

She pointed out that every teacher must feel that it is his calling to develop young minds and, through them, to actually shape the destiny of the country and the world.

“The teacher must be dedicated and caring to the point that it matters to him or her that his or her students learn all that they need to know,” she said.

Teachers, she noted, are the pillars of society. Staying in the background, at least for most of the time, they have been indirectly responsible for the advancement of the race.

“Teachers are the ones who guarantee that our tomorrows will be as good as, if not better than, our todays. By shaping character, they ensure that the world continues to progress,” she said.

Meanwhile, principal of SMK Impian Emas Wong Cheui Keen said it is a day when the value of being a teacher is truly felt and experienced, by all students.

She said by the nature of their work, teachers are in a position not just to profoundly impact the students they teach, but their influence lives on through generations afterwards.

“Teachers do something that no one else can; they change the student’s outlook of the world and inspire them to dream. They take them in, and make something better than they were before,” she said.

Nadzaruddin Mohd Taib, principal of SMK St. Joseph said that education is pivotal in a country’s future and teachers take the centre stage.

In many ways, Nadzaruddin said, teachers should be lauded and we must always honour their services to society.

“Teachers’ Day should be celebrated with full appreciation of their value to society,” he said.

As teachers, he said, most of us hope for our students to be successful, contributing members of society.

Retired excellent principal Ande Noor Munawarah Bachok feels that a teacher must endeavor to justify the trust placed in him or her and serve the best interests of the children who are in his or her care.

Ande Noor who was the former principal of SMK I.J. Convent before she retired in 2023 said in this age of rapid change – teachers will need to adapt if they are to survive and keep pace with methods and technologies.

“A good teacher should be able to impart knowledge to pupils based on their own level of understanding. As teachers, most of us hope for our students to be successful, contributing members of society,” she said.

She said that the teaching profession is very challenging, the teaching methodology differs from year to year, and we need to cater to the needs of our country and each generation, adding that, “teachers also needed to continue learning new methods.”

Ande Noor, who was the former president of the Johore branch’s national excellent principals’ council added that considering their contributions, teachers very well deserve the special treatment and pampering, and not just on that particular day.