A Special Session with Indian Teachers

“Giving recognition to students especially to those who are weak in their studies and to those who have disciplinary problems is one of the ways to change their characters and improve their performance in their studies. It would also uplift their self esteem”, said Mr Nadarajah, to a group of secondary school teachers from Melaka during a special session with them recently.

Mr Nadarajah shared his teaching experiences and EWRF’s background and services to 40 Indian secondary school teachers who had participated in the Teachers’ Professionalism Course organized by the Tamil Unit of the Melaka State Education Department from 2nd - 4th July 2007 at Hotel Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. EWRF was aware that all the teachers who participated in the course taught Tamil alongside other subjects in their schools.

Mr Ananthakumar, Assistant Director of the Tamil Unit invited EWRF officers to elaborate on EWRF and also to talk about the teachers’ role in community development to the participants.

Mr Nadarajah who is a teacher at SMK Tasek Permai, Ampang and also the General Secretary of EWRF told during the session that teachers can make a difference among students provided that the teacher is able to identify the negative characteristics of the student. “Teachers or individuals should praise students whenever they do something good, even when it is only something small”, he added. These are the principles that he has been practicing in his school since he was posted to SMK Tasek Permai.

He took tireless efforts to change the image of the Indian students in his school who were once labeled as problematic. He said that he was proud that now the Indian students in the school have improved tremendously in their studies and character.

Mr G Daniel, EWRF Project Officer briefed the teachers on the career guidance and counseling workshop that has been conducted by EWRF for Indian students in secondary schools since the mid of 2006. He explained to the teachers about the methodology used in the workshop which helps students identify their personality types and careers. He also urged the teachers to organize the workshop in their respective schools and said that EWRF officers will facilitate the workshops.

Before the end of the session, many teachers were impressed with the work being carried out by EWRF for the development of the Indian community. Some of the teachers offered themselves to be volunteers in the programmes run by EWRF. Some even showed interest to become members of EWRF.

The two hour session finally came to an end with the presentation of fruit baskets which were handed out as tokens of appreciation to Mr Nadarajah, Mr Daniel and Mr Manikam Krishnan, EWRF Manager who was also present for the session.