KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 ― After nearly 30 years in education, KA Razhiyah from SMK Panji in Kota Baru, Kelantan made it into the top 50 nominees for the 2018 Global Teacher Prize (GTP).
The 58-year-old is Malaysia’s sole candidate for the US$1 million (RM3.9 million) prize set up by the Varkey Foundation under the patronage of the United Arab Emirates’ Vice-President, Prime Minister and Emir of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum, and will know this month if she will make the list of 10 finalists.
While some of her contemporaries in the government service may be looking forward to retirement at age 60, Razhiyah who specialises in teaching children of different abilities only views it with dismay.
“I love teaching these kids and this is a lot of fun for me. I still have the willpower and I do not want to retire; there is still so much I can do,” she told Malay Mail in a recent phone interview.
In 2008, she founded Teratak Spa to provide spa education for children with special needs, a creative solution to equip her students with skills while educating them.
Razhiyah also said that due credit must be given to the principal of SMK Panji whom she said has been encouraging when she started the spa programme for the students.
“My principal Sharifah Nor Arinawati Long Ibrahim gives full support and encouragement all the times to the spa programme and it is a great motivation,” she said.
The initiative was recognised by the Education Ministry in 2016 and last December, Razhiyah was chosen from thousands of teachers from over 150 countries as one of 50 to qualify for this year’s GTP.
She is the only sixth Malaysian to have been a finalist of the GTP since its inception in 2015.
Razhiyah expressed surprise when she learnt she had been shortlisted, but hoped the exposure from her nomination will further raise awareness about special needs education.
She said teaching a class full of students with different abilities is something that is both challenging and fulfilling.
“Not one student is the same as another. Each one of them is unique. And with each student, you must have a different approach,” she said, relating that many of her students also come from poor families who lack even basic amenities.
She makes it a point to find out about each of her students beyond the classroom walls.
“When you teach these students, you learn to be grateful for what you have as well.
“You have to know your student well enough ― about the student's family life, the home environment, you have to understand all these factors, and only then you can truly know them well,” she said.
Razhiyah's biggest concern for her students is that they lack options and avenues to further their learning process once they leave compulsory schooling, which in Malaysia is up till Form Five.
Due to their abilities, she said many of the special needs children can't read or write, but are more than capable in carrying out certain tasks in a skill-based environment.
“We see the attitude slowly changing now. We are seeing more vocational schools. But much more can still be done. These children can do an excellent job if given the chance,” she said.
Razhiyah urged special needs instructors to invest their time in getting to know their young charges so they can shine.
At the same time, she also urged parents to have faith in their special needs children, assuring them their kids are capable of performing well in certain jobs.
“I have had parents who did not want to let their child go to work. You have to believe in them, encourage them, they can produce something special with the abilities that they have,” she said.
If Razhiyah makes it into the GTP 10 finalists, she will be flown to Dubai to attend the Global Education and Skills Forum next month, where the winner will be announced in a ceremony live.
Malaysia has had several local teachers nominated and shortlisted for the GTP since 2016, but none have won the prize as yet.
