Malaysian among world’s top 50 teachers shortlisted for global prize

K. A. Razhiyah, a teacher in Kota Bharu, stands to get US$1 million if she wins the 2018 Global Teacher Prize.

PETALING JAYA: K. A. Razhiyah, a teacher from SMK Panji in Kota Bharu, is among 50 finalists for the 2018 Global Teacher Prize.

Razhiyah began her career as a teacher in 1985, and in 1991, she began to train in special-needs education.

According to information on the Global Teacher Prize’s website, Razhiyah introduced a programme known as “Teratak Spa” in 2008 to make her special-needs students feel welcome through spa education.

Elements of this programme included facial treatments, hand and foot massages, and use of a vocational syllabus.

Razhiyah said her students often found it difficult to learn the necessary skills but their sense of pride was evident when they eventually figure out how to put into practice what they have learned.

An example of this occurred when her students began offering spa services to the public. Such was the success of these spa services that in 2016, “Teratak Spa” was adopted by the Ministry of Education as a national benchmark for special-needs education.

Rathiyah also has a performing-arts background, and has leveraged this to train her students to participate in theatre competitions.

“My special kids may lack cognitive abilities, and their intelligence level is not as high as others. But, those special kids have a hidden talent that not many people realise,” she said.

Rathiyah said she wanted her students to live in equality and dignity.

The 50 finalists for the 2018 award hail from 33 different countries. Razhiyah is one of five nominees from Southeast Asia. The others are Thanh Nam from Vietnam, Ryan Homan and Jesus Insilada from the Philippines, and Ahmad Wahono from Indonesia.

The prize, awarded by the Varkey Foundation, is worth US$1 million (RM4.1 million) and is given to the teacher deemed to have made the greatest contribution to their profession over the last year. The Global Teacher Prize Academy will select the winner. - FMT