Mahdzir praises award-winning Sabah teacher

Published on: Sunday, March 04, 2018

Kota Kinabalu: Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid commended Keningau Vocational College teacher
Mohd Sirhajwan Idek for winning the Community Award for Citizenship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Feb
28.

Sirhajwan is the first Malaysian to win the award. He defeated seven other participants in the final held in
conjunction with the Global Educational Supplies and Solutions (Gess) Education Awards.

The Kota Belud-born teacher had previously won three internationally-acclaimed awards, besides being a finalist
in other international competitions.

He was named the world champion of the 2017 International Innovation and Entrepreneurship Excellence in
Teaching Award in Paris; the global winner of the Express Publishing IATEFL Scholarship 2017; and winner of
the Global Macmillan Teacher at My Heart 2016 in Norwich, United Kingdom.

Mahdzir said Sirhajwan's achievements not only promoted the nation's image in the teaching profession but also
showed teachers in Malaysia are capable of competing with their counterparts in other countries.

"The Malaysian Education Ministry appreciates Sirhajwan's efforts and commitment towards excellence.

"I hope this will inspire other teachers in the country to carve their own success for the nation's education
development," he said when welcoming Sirhajwan home at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Friday.

Also present were Sirhajwan's parents with State Agriculture and Food Industries Assistant Minister Datuk
Musbah Jamli, who is also Tempasuk Assemblyman.

Sirhajwan, who graduated from Gaya Teachers' Institute in Kota Kinabalu and obtained a Bachelor's degree in
Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Shah Alam, was often
invited to share ideas through roadshows conducted by the Ministry of Education as well as TEDx programmes
held at local universities.

The well decorated educator was also a finalist in the Gess Outstanding Contribution in Education Award 2018,
the Global Teacher Prize 2017, the Bett Asia Collaboration Award 2017, the Commonwealth Class Story Writing
Teacher Category 2016 and the SEAMEO Australia Education Link Award 2015. - Gindanau Sakat