Ex-head of Aminuddin Baki gets special award

Ex-head of Aminuddin Baki gets special award
2010/05/16
By Alina Simon and M. Hamzah Jamaludin

KUANTAN: Continuous support from family members, friends and various agencies has enabled the recipient of this year's Special Award for Educational Leadership to excel in his work and contribute to the community.
Professor Datuk Dr Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid admitted that he was able to perform his best because of the strong support he received from his family and friends.

"At the same time, I could excel in my profession because of strong teamwork and the backing from the community, teachers, school heads and various agencies and ministries."

He said this after receiving the award from Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the national-level Teachers Day celebration at Universiti Malaysia Pahang here.

Ibrahim, 66, is the former director of Aminuddin Baki Institute and has held various posts locally and at the international level, including being the first director of Unesco-Regional Centre For Educational Planning in Al-Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

He is currently the vice-president and deputy vice-chancellor of INTI University College and helms various institutions, including the Asia Pacific Education Research Association.
He has written several books and is a regular contributor in the New Sunday Times for his column As I Wonder.

On the challenges faced by teachers today, Ibrahim said they should equip themselves with new skills in line with the development in other sectors.

"Teachers should not remain in their comfort zone and must accept the fact that the world is changing. The public is expecting more from teachers as they want a better quality of education."

At the function, Muhyiddin also presented the 2010 Tokoh Guru (excellent teacher) awards to four recipients -- Awang Mohamad (Kota Baru); Encharang Agas (Betong, Sarawak); Datuk Chuang Keng Kung (Penang) and Ainun Jamilah Mohd Ali (Kuala Terengganu).

Each recipient received RM10,000, a trophy, a medal and certificate.

Awang, 59, said such an award was important as it recognised the contributions made by 400,000 teachers and 7,000 school heads nationwide.

"As a former teacher, I urge all teachers to give their best without any excuse.

"We only have 30 years in the profession and must excel within that period," said Awang, who was promoted as headmaster at the age of 37 and had fought for the rights of school heads when he was the president of Malaysian Headmasters Council.

Ainun, 62, said the only thing that could make a teacher proud was to see his or her students excel in their lives.

As a principal, Ainun has helped her school clinch various awards, including the Education Minister's Quality Award in 1988.
Chuang, 72, received the award for his continuous contribution to the community even after he had retired from the teaching profession while 66-year-old Encharang was chosen for his efforts in promoting the Iban language in Sarawak.