KUALA LUMPUR – A Sabah chemistry teacher won the inaugural Malaysia Teacher Prize and RM50,000.
SMJK Chung Hwa, Tenom’s Anuthra Sirisena (pic) uses technology and gamification to keep her school in the top 10 for SPM chemistry in Sabah. She co-founded Tenom Innovation Centre (TIC), a makerspace that has taught over 2,000 rural teachers and students robotics and coding.
Anuthra hopes to use the inaugural award money to expand TIC and build a “Pedalaman Makers-Hub” to connect four interior Sabah districts.
“I am proud to represent my colleagues in uplifting the teaching profession in Malaysia”
– Anuthra Sirisena
“Winning the first Malaysia Teacher Prize humbles me. I’ve always loved teaching and am proud of my students’ accomplishments.
“I am proud to represent my colleagues in uplifting the teaching profession in Malaysia,” she said in a press release.
YTL Foundation’s 25th anniversary celebrations include Pemimpin GSL’s award honouring outstanding teachers nationwide. A hotel hosted the event last night.
Malaysian teachers are honoured annually with the Malaysia Teacher Prize to support their efforts to make a lasting impact on their students and communities.
Anuthra’s dedication to teaching and helping every student reach their potential helped her win the prize.
Pemimpin GSL CEO Cheryl Ann Fernando and programme director Samuel Isaiah believed Anuthra would represent the prize well and showcase her efforts to the teaching community.
“The many applications received for the Malaysia Teacher Prize this year are just the tip of the iceberg and there are many more amazing teachers in Malaysia who work tirelessly to improve the lives of their students,” they said. The organiser received 800+ applications from May 10 to July 17.
YTL Foundation programme director Datuk Kathleen Chew said the Malaysia Teacher Prize honours teachers who improve their students’ lives, the community, and the Malaysian education ecosystem.
“As we celebrate the foundation’s 25th anniversary, we are delighted to have supported this landmark prize in our storied journey of championing education and empowering communities,” she said.
Info source – The Star