Attendees at the 2021 Malaysian Primary and Secondary School Teachers’ Teaching and Counseling Workshop

Approximately 120 educators took part in the 2021 Malaysian Primary and Secondary School Teachers’ Teaching and Counseling Workshop organized by the Organization of Taiwan Education and Culture Malaysia, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), and the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Malaysia was held from December 11 to December 13. This highly successful 3-day workshop, designed to promote the professional development of teaching and counseling and address teachers’ needs for effective teaching techniques was co-organized by the Malaysian Chinese Secondary School Principal Council, the Chinese Language Section of the State Education Department in Malaysia, and the Selangor Chinese Secondary School Teachers Association in Malaysia, and Ling Tung University, Tunghai University and National Taitung University in Taiwan. 

The participants included Ms. Chen Huiqi, Assistant Director of the Chinese Language Section of the Pahang Education Department, State Education Department officials, Lim Peck Poh, Chair of the Malaysian Chinese Secondary School Principal Council, Tay Keng Lee, Chair of the Selangor Chinese Secondary School Teachers Association, and many primary and secondary school principals and teachers.

Dr. Mah Hang Soon, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Education, was a distinguished guest at the opening. In his remarks, he emphasized that teachers should pay attention to the mental state of their students to ensure that they can provide appropriate and professional guidance immediately. He explained that an educator with professional knowledge will benefit their students by offering them a fruitful study life. He praised the organizers for offering courses which will help to improve the professional levels of teachers, and the teachers who are taking part in the workshop to improve their knowledge. He hoped that collaboration will strengthen the exchanges and links between the Organization of Taiwan Education and Culture, the Education Division, and UTAR, and he encouraged the Organization to conduct similar online courses to provide more learning platforms for teachers.

Dr. Charlin Chang, the Director of the Education Division of TECO then outlined several new higher education projects and innovation production projects in schools that Taiwan’s MOE is implementing to cultivate students’ skills. Taiwan is also promoting innovative higher education projects to encourage students to apply their knowledge to life. 
Maintaining humanity plays an important role in maintaining a balanced life in this era of ongoing technological development, so it is essential for individual students to build connections with others and to integrate their professional and cultural knowledge and skills with social and community needs. Taiwan’s higher education highlights this.

Mr. Beh Chew Nam, Executive Director of the Organization of Taiwan Education and Culture, Malaysia explained that the objective of the organization is to promote Malaysian Chinese cultural exchanges, enhance students’ learning abilities, and assist them with short-term and long-term courses. The crucial role that educators play in cultivating future national leaders inspired the organization to also conduct training courses. Professor Dr. Ewe Hong Tat, the president of UTAR said that with the development of modern technology and the popularization of the internet, all information is at people’s fingertips, but at the same time, the role of teachers as guides will become increasingly important.

The courses and discussion helped the participating teachers to enhance their teaching skills and strategies, strengthen and improve their ability to guide their students’ learning, and make both teaching and learning more interesting and effective.