SHOWING KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WAY TO INDEPENDENCE
Princess Maha Chakri Award recipient passionate about helping them excel
IT is said that there is no nobler profession than teaching and that teachers are the heart of the education system.
American politician Brad Henry once said a good teacher could inspire hope, ignite the imagination and instil a love of learning.
K.A. Razhiyah, 60, is one such teacher who went above and beyond for her students since she began her career in 1985.
After three years of teaching in two primary schools, Razhiyah felt she needed a bigger challenge.
Choosing the path less taken, she embarked on an eight-year journey to teach students with hearing disability.
And yet, she felt it was not enough. Keen to equip herself with knowledge to help disadvantaged children, she chose to pursue a Bachelor of Education (Special Education) degree at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
She has been teaching children with learning disabilities in Kota Baru, Kelantan, since 1999.
“My kids have different problems, such as autism, Down syndrome and mental disabilities.
“However, the key to teaching them is to accept that each one is unique and it is important to understand them,” she said at the Thai embassy here on Tuesday.
Due to her dedication and support for her students, Razhiyah will receive the prestigious Princess Maha Chakri Award (PMCA) on Oct 15 in Bangkok.
She will receive a golden PMCA
pin, US$10,000 (RM41,760) and a PMCA plaque.
PMCA was set up in 2015 during Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s 60th birthday celebration in recognition of her contribution, commitment and devotion to teachers and education, particularly disadvantaged groups in Southeast Asia.
The award is given once every two years to 11 teachers in Southeast Asia who have changed their students’ lives.
Aside from Razhiyah, two other Malaysian teachers were also awarded the PMCA. Zainuddin Zakaria from SMK Taman Bukit Maluri here received the award in 2015, while Saripah Embong from SM Agama (Atas) Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu, received it in 2017.
The 11 recipients of this year’s PMCA were nominated by their respective countries’ Education Ministries.
Once nominations were endorsed, PMCA committee members went to each country to meet with stakeholders, such as the Education Ministry’s senior officials, Thai ambassadors, award recipients, the Thai private sector and the media.
The most important and unique aspect of the award is that it enables recipients to expand their practices to improve themselves and help other teachers in the region.
For Razhiyah, she plans on using her reward to set up a spa so she can employ her students and guarantee them a future.
“I am teaching at SMK Panji in Kota Baru, where there are 99 students with learning disabilities. I teach 26 of them in the spa class where we do facial treatment, hand massage and come up with spa products, such as massage oil, facial cleanser, lip gloss and hair oil.
“Our Teratak Spa has set up booths in many places, including shopping malls. This is how we raise money but I cannot stop thinking about their future after school.
“I have decided to use the US$10,000 prize money to open up a spa so I can at least guarantee a job for each of them.
“Not many people are willing to employ those with disabilities.”
Last year, when presenting the Teratak Spa Special Education video in London, Razhiyah beat 30,000 other nominations to be listed as one of the top 50 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize, awarded by the Varkey Foundation in the United Kingdom.
This was not her only award. She also received the Special Education Network in Asia Advocacy Award this year, apart from countless national, state and district-level awards since 2002.
Razhiyah reminisced about her journey as a teacher, where she first started teaching English
and music.
Since then, she has been involved in many other activities.
As part of her efforts to not only teach but also inspire her students, Razhiyah has directed a play, formed and trained a circus group, managed a martial arts group and participated in women’s welfare programmes.
“When I was directing the play, it was not easy at first as I had to understand each of my students’ strengths, but once I identified them, it was wonderful.
“We won second place at the state-level competition.
“The most amazing thing was that we competed against schools with normal students.
“As for the circus group, we performed twice at a mall in Kuala Lumpur.
“It was amazing because my students did a balancing act, somersaults and other stunts.”
Razhiyah also wrote scripts for 19 local telemovies and drama series.
“I do a little bit of this and that to inspire my students. I have written special education books, children storybooks, short stories and youth novels.”
Despite being busy with activities, she is passionate about finding ways for her students to be independent.
This, to her, is the most challenging aspect of her career.
“Not many companies are willing to employ disabled people although they can get a significant amount of tax reduction by doing so. I would like to see the government become more strict on this.
“People always say, ‘Let others help the disabled’, but who is going to do that? That is why I want to open up the spa.
“I do not feel right about not being concerned about their future when they leave school. I must do something.
“I wish more local companies will employ disabled people because that will be a huge help,” she said, adding that the disabled should be paid equally based on their capabilities.
Razhiyah said instead of retiring, she had applied to the Education Ministry to allow her to teach on a contract basis.
The status of her application remains unknown for now.
“If my application is not successful, I will set up the spa right away because this will ensure job opportunities for my students.
“It is important to teach them to become independent. We should help each other.
“We are healthy now, but who knows what is going to happen in the future? Let’s contribute while we can.”
She hoped parents with disabled children would be more mindful of their children’s future, adding that coddling them would not help them to be independent.
Razhiyah said she would spend as much time as she could with her students at SMK Panji, describing them as part of her family.
“I position myself as their friend because that is how I can help and teach them.
“Being a teacher means being a parent, a doctor, a gardener, a sweeper and many other things but, most importantly, their friend.
“When your students can do something that you have taught them, it gives you a sense of satisfaction.
“Everyone wants to contribute something to this world while we are alive, right?
“For me, I choose to teach children with disabilities because you cannot imagine the joy I feel every day.”