IPOH: A teacher with nearly 30 years of experience, including teaching at an Orang Asli school, was awarded the Tokoh Guru award (Anugerah Tokoh Guru).
Zulkifli Ahmad, 59, received the award from Sultan Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah during the Perak Islamic Education Excellence Awards Ceremony at Casuarina Meru Hotel on Thursday (Nov 9).
“I am certainly thankful to receive the award. But I did not achieve this alone. I have to thank my family and colleagues for making it possible for me,” he said after the event.
Zulkifli, who is currently the principal at Sekolah Menengah Agama Rakyat (SMAR) Orang Asli Nurul Hidayah Kampung Kenang, Sungai Siput, said seeing the success of his students is one of the many reasons why he became a teacher.
“I started teaching in 1991, and the thought of changing my profession never crossed my mind. My father, who was also a teacher, perhaps influenced me, but teaching is also my passion. I feel that this is my calling at the same time to contribute to society.
“Sometimes, when I go for health check-ups, the doctor on-call is my former student. I have students who worked as teachers and lawyers, and some have even got PhD awards. It made me feel proud,” he said, adding that his wife and their four children are also teachers.
He added that teaching at an Orang Asli school comes with its own set of challenges.
“Before this, I worked at Al-Hidayah Education Centre in Ipoh for 25 years. I was the headmaster, principal, and the CEO. But later, I felt that I needed to tackle new challenges, which was how I became the principal at the Orang Asli school.
“Adapting to their culture and languages were among the things I had to do first, and I am lucky that we have Orang Asli teachers in the school to help me out.
“We had to find ways to motivate the students as some were the first in their family to attend school. We held several seminar programmes where successful Orang Asli students gave talks to motivate the students,” he said, adding that he will continue to teach after he retires next year.
“The Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIPk) director Harith Fadzilah Abdul Halim suggested a religious centre to be set up near the SMAR Nurul Hidayah where I can help to guide Orang Asli who work as Islamic missionaries.
“With my experiences in teaching, I will continue to contribute to society as much as I can,” he added.
Also present at the event was Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani, state infrastructure committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and State Education committee chairman Khairudin Abu Hanipah.
There were 24 awards given during the ceremony, including the Perak Excellent SMKA School for 2023 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia won by Sekolah Menengah Tahfiz Darul Ridzuan Batang Padang, Perak Islamic Kindergarten (TIP) Excellent Teacher award won by Noorfaiza Mat Zubir from TIP Zafirah in Kampung Jong Gerik and Perak TIP Excellent Supervisor award won by Siti Nadiah Abu Kasim from Kampung Relang, Batu Kurau.
