Exemplary: Wan Muadzam and his pupil with the running aid made from PVC pipes and joint connectors.
A SPECIAL education teacher at SK Klang in Selangor has made it into the Top 50 shortlist for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2023.
Welcoming the news, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek extended her congratulations to Wan Muadzam Wan Abidin, who was shortlisted for the US$1mil (RM4.72mil) prize from over 7,000 teachers from 130 countries.
“I am very proud of our teachers who are getting noticed and recognised on the international stage,” she posted on Facebook recently.
Organised in collaboration with Unesco and in partnership with Dubai Cares, a United Arab Emirates-based global philanthropic organisation, the largest prize of its kind is in its eighth year running.
The shortlist, announced on Sept 27, recognises exceptional teachers who have made an outstanding contribution to the profession while shining a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society.
By unearthing thousands of stories of heroes who have transformed young people’s lives, the prize hopes to bring to life the exceptional work of millions of teachers all over the world.
Wan Muadzam is highly motivated in seeking ways to help, support and encourage his pupils, especially the visually impaired, to succeed and master as many skills as possible.
Advocating for his pupils via social media platforms, he takes it upon himself to dispel societal myths about them, demonstrating they are just as capable, and to enhance their acceptance and employability.
As they became more interested in the great outdoors due to his encouragement, Wan Muadzam took three of his blind pupils to the top of Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in South-East Asia in 2011.
His use and development of assistive tools include the “Caballus Rafvi”, a running aid in the form of a foldable wheeled trolley made from PVC pipes and joint connectors, which allows his visually impaired pupils to participate in athletics on their own without assistance.
Another innovation is a Braille Al-Quran reader, enabling his pupils to win various Al-Quran reading and Hafazan Al-Quran competitions up to the national level.
As an athletic coach for Selangor, he implemented a 2017 talent search programme for visually impaired youngsters normally overlooked by the system, creating a special athletics competition they could participate in.
As the Selangor State Special Education Teacher Council secretary, he shares his skills and experiences of the teaching profession with 7,000 special education teachers throughout Malaysia, and works closely with the Education Ministry on textbook and curriculum development, as well as Braille textbook development and individual education plans online with Unesco.
Speaking at conferences and events internationally and sharing his story via a multitude of media outlets, Wan Muadzam has won international acclaim and awards.
Dubai Cares chief executive officer and vice-chairman Dr Tariq Al Gurg said teachers are the driving force behind progress, inspiring and shaping the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.
In addition to imparting knowledge, the role of teachers needs to be redefined as coaches, mentors and facilitators who can empower their students to achieve their full potential by instilling in them the values, skills, knowledge and experiences they need to contribute solutions to the global challenges facing humanity and thrive in the ever-changing world, he said.
The Global Teacher Prize, he added in a press release, celebrates the tireless efforts and incredible accomplishments of teachers around the world, and their role in driving human development.
Unesco Education assistant director-general Stefania Giannini said teachers deserve “great recognition” as they inspire and prepare children and youth to navigate a rapidly evolving world.
Their efforts play a leading role in transforming education for the future, she said.
Varkey Foundation founder Sunny Varkey said the Global Teacher Prize was launched to highlight the importance of education in tackling the great challenges ahead – from climate change and growing inequality to sweeping changes in technology.
Teachers are assessed on teaching practices, and how they innovate to address local challenges, achieve demonstrable learning outcomes, impact the community beyond the classroom, help children become global citizens, improve the teaching profession and gain recognition from external bodies.
The prize will be narrowed down to 10 finalists, who will be announced later in the year.
