Fond farewell: (From left) SMJKCW acting principal Koh Nee Kien, Sathiyakumar, Ooi and his wife Choo Soun Foong.
ASPIRING teachers must keep themselves updated with the latest teaching and learning methods.
And, it is crucial that they are computer savvy as we now live in a fast-paced digital world said SMJK Chan Wa (SMJKCW), Seremban, teacher Ooi Kean Heng, who bid farewell to the profession on Oct 4.
“But being old fashioned, I miss the handwritten teaching record books, attendance registers and notebooks of the 1980s. During the Covid-19 pandemic, everything was online,” said Ooi, who taught in Selangor and Negri Sembilan schools for over 36 years.
The eldest of six siblings, Ooi who was born in Taiping, Perak, received his primary education at SJKC Tung Hwa and secondary education in SMK Bagan Serai before continuing his Form Six education at SMK Methodist. He later received his certificate of education in Chinese Studies at the Muhammad Khalid Teachers College (MPMK), Johor Bahru, and ventured to pursue his Bachelor of Mathematics (Honours) at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.
“Being the eldest child, my father Ooi Ah Chai and mother Gan Sew Ping entrusted me with the responsibility of caring for my younger siblings whenever they were not at home.
“This valuable experience helped mould me to be a better teacher,” he shared.
As a teacher, he served at SJKC Chung Hua Banting, SJKC Serdang Baru 2, SJKC Chung Hua Port Dickson, SJKC Sino English (St Mary) and finally, SMJK Chan Wa, where he taught Mandarin, Mathematics, Physical and Health Education and Moral Education for three decades.
During his career, the former examination secretary, discipline teacher, sports secretary, Police Cadet teacher, basketball coach and basketball technical chairman Seremban 1 District Schools Sports Council, was awarded the Excellence Service Award four times, in 1997, 2006, 2014 and 2023.
R. Sathiyakumar, who joined more than 1,200 students in the SMJKCW school hall to celebrate Ooi’s retirement, described his former colleague as a patient, kind, generous and thoughtful person.
“We share many common principles and values as teachers.
“Our friendship remains close and we plan on spending more time on hobbies we both enjoy,” said Sathiyakumar in a press release.
