From a teacher to a hero

Every year on 16 May, the nation rejoices to celebrate the contribution of the educators in this country. Teacher’s Day is celebrated as a day dedicated to remember and honour our teachers who have committed their life to educate us from primary to secondary school.

Every teacher holds an important role as they educate and teach the right thing to a child besides her/his parents. Many teachers have also dedicated their lives not only teaching their students but in some cases the whole nation.

Here is a look at some of the prominent figures who played a key role in expanding and improving the education system in this country:

1. Khalidah Adibah bt Amin or known as Adibah Amin was a reporter for the NSTP and The Star's newspaper. She wrote books, drama scripts, short stories and columns duration. Adibah also made a name for herself as an actress.She was a teacher in Kolej Tunku Kurshiah,Negeri Sembilan.

2. Raja Permaisuri Perak Darul Ridzuan Tuanku Bainun was the first commoner to be crowned as the Raja Permaisuri Agong. Her Royal Highness was proclaimed the Raja Permaisuri Perak Darul Ridzuan in 1988 .She has taught in various schools in Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, Raub, Taiping and Kuantan, including her former school.

3. Datin Paduka Sister Enda Ryan, born as Eileen Philomena Ryan is the founder of Assunta Primary School and Assunta Secondary School in Petaling Jaya. She was the first headmistress of the schools and in 1966, she became a Malaysian citizen. She retired in 1989 and now resides in the Assunta Convent in PJ Old Town.

4. Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting was a teacher in Catholic High School in Petaling Jaya from 1981 until 1986. The former Minister of Housing and Local Government and former President of the MCA left the presidency in 2008.

5. Zaba Zainal Abidin Bin Ahmad or known as Za’ba was the first Malay to take and pass the Senior Cambridge test in 1915. He became a teacher at a school in Johor Bahru in 1916. Za’ba wrote a lot essays and a series of Malay grammar books entitled Pelita Bahasa.Za’ba passed away on 23 October 1973.

6. R. Thampipillay joined the V.I. teaching staff in 1898. Thampipillay played a important role in the formation and training of the Cadet Corps by holding the rank of Lieutenant .He taught a total of some 15 000 pupils.Thampipillay died at the age of 95 in 1974.

7. Ganesh Asirvatham is a Scrabble player who represents Malaysia in international competition for World Scrabble Championship 2007 . He is the runner-up for the current Guinness World Record holder for the most Scrabble opponents played simultaneously by one challenger. He was also the unofficial World Number 1 scrabble player in 2009.

8. Tan Sri Dr Devaki Krishnan juggled her political career with a 25-year stint as a teacher also as a major in the Civil Defence Department. She was the first woman to contest in an open public election in Malaysia. Devaki obtained the Wanita award in 1985 by the National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO) and the “Woman of the Year 1998” by the American Biographical Institute.

9. Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir known as Munshi Abdullah followed his father's career path as a translator and teacher of colonial officials in the Malay Archipelago. He is regarded as the father of modern Malay literature. Abdullah died in Jeddah in October 1854 at the age of 58 on his way to Mecca.

10. Datuk Rasammah Naomi Navarednam fought for equal pay for women teachers and was the founder president of the Women Teachers Union of the Federation of Malaya and founder principal of the Methodist College.Rasammah was awarded the Tokoh Guru award in 1986.

11. Tun Dr Fatimah Hashim was a Malaysian freedom fighter country’s first woman minister. She headed Umno’s Kaum Ibu (now known as Wanita Umno). In August 2009, she was one among the four Malaysians to receive the Merdeka Award for the Education and Community category. Fatimah died on Jan 9 2010.