Seminar held to enhance professional teaching and counselling skills of school teachers

The Organization of Taiwan Education & Cultural, Malaysia and UTAR jointly organised Bengkel Pemantapan Pedagogi Guru-Guru Sekolah Menengah dan Sekolah Rendah Peringkat Kebangsaan Tahun 2021 (2021年馬來西亞中小學教師教學與輔導研習營) from 11 to 13 December 2021 at Grand Ion Delemen Hotel, Genting Highland, Pahang.

The seminar was co-organised by Majlis Pengetua-pengetua Sekolah-Sekolah Menengah Conforming Malaysia (MPSMCM), Persatuan Kebajikan Guru-Guru Bahasa Cina Sekolah Menengah Negeri Selangor, Penolong Pengarah Bahasa Cina from States’ Education Departments, Taiwan’s Ling Tung University, Tunghai University and National Taitung University. It was directed by the Education Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia.

Aimed at providing a platform for teachers to develop and enhance their teaching skills and methodological practices, and to relieve stress and adjust their minds to overcome the challenges under the new normal, the seminar saw more than 120 teachers and principals from primary and secondary schools attending the three-day seminar under strict precautionary measures.

Invited to officiate the opening ceremony was Deputy Minister of Education I, Ministry of Education Malaysia Senator YB Dato’ Dr Mah Hang Soon. Also present were UTAR President Ir Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, Education Division Director Charlin Chang, Taiwan Education Center in Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Beh Chew Nam, UTAR Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) Dean Assoc Prof Dr Chong Siou Wei and representatives from states, schools and associations.

Dato’ Mah congratulated the organisers for successfully organising the seminar and said, “It is hoped that through the collaboration of several parties, the exchanges and contacts between the joint organisations can be strengthened, and more learning opportunities and platforms will be provided to teachers in the future.”

“This seminar will help to improve the professional level of teachers and also benefit the students, thus opening up a more colourful world for the students, which is in line with the teaching taught by Confucius. Besides that, I believe teachers may need to have a certain understanding of the psychological state of students to provide appropriate and professional counselling in a timely manner when facing students' physical and mental conditions,” he added.

Chang revealed, “In a stable and prosperous environment, Taiwan has continuously increased its investment in higher education. Humanities are always the fundamental bottom line to prevent social development from getting out of control when technology continues to grow wildly. Taiwan’s higher education believes that in addition to one’s own abilities, connecting professional and cultural characteristics with others is more important.”

Beh shared the founding purposes of the Organization of Taiwan Education & Cultural, Malaysia and said, “The association aims to promote educational and cultural exchanges among Malaysian Chinese and give full support to assist and organise education-based long or short courses. Teachers play a very important role in maintaining the continuation and inheritance of Chinese education and culture.”

Prof Ewe mentioned, “UTAR is deeply honoured that it has been able to contribute to this teaching seminar, specially designed for teachers for many years, since the inaugural seminar held in 2013.

He then emphasised the importance of teacher’s role and said, “With the development of modern technology and the popularisation of the internet, all kinds of information are at our fingertips, but the role of teachers will not be eliminated. On the contrary, the role of teachers as guides will become increasingly important. Apart from imparting knowledge, as a teacher, our responsibility is also to “nurture student” (育人), to educate them how to behave well, and to guide them in the direction of goodness.”

There were a total of nine talk sessions during the seminar. Speakers from UTAR were ICS academic Dr Yap Siew Chin, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) Department of Chinese Medicine Head Assoc Prof Dr Te Kian Keong and academic Ooi Ciat Hui. They presented topics related to art and culture in Chinese language and literature; Chinese traditional culture and infectious diseases; and the legendary stories and thoughts as well as culture of famous ancient Chinese doctors respectively.