The importance of Teachers!!

A friend of mine used to teach in a kindergarten in Malaysia but later resigned as the workload was very heavy but the remuneration was not.

The pay was so low that she had to look for other part time job to be financially stable.

This current state of affairs is totally unacceptable as it cannot be denied that pre-school days are the most crucial time to develop a child's mind and motor skills. However the quality of teachers for pre-schoolers are often second rate whereas in developed countries, they appreciate the necessity to have qualified teachers for pre-schoolers. Hence the teacher's take home salary also reflects this level of importance.

A direct consequences of low remuneration is the lack of pride in their job as the public generally perceived teachers of pre-schoolers as of lower qualification compare with teachers of higher education. And where there is lack of pride, one will hardly put in the extra effort in their profession.

We must remember that pre-schoolers teachers are the children' first teachers and the impression that these teachers leave on them will influence these children for life. I have an uncle who was a very studious student but when he was in primary school used to hate a particular teacher so much that he will leave the classroom and stand outside whenever this teacher enters the room.

Teachers have the power to break or make the subject alive to the students. I remember enjoying history more than geography purely because the teacher took the time and effort to make the subject interesting for us.

For Malaysia to progress we must treat our teachers better on all levels and not just for the higher education ones.