QUESTION: Teachers Challenges in education at 21st Century.

Description of 21st century skills

In moving towards the 21st century education, various advances were achieved by each
individual either globally or locally . The teaching profession is responsible for implementing
basic education system based National Education Philosophy ( FPN ) . It’s aim is to generate and
produce students who are balanced in physically, emotionally , spiritually, intellectually and
socially ( JERIS ) . In addition, the FPN also emphasis on the 3M ( reading , writing and
counting) , it's also in line with new skills such as science and technology , communication skills,
interpersonal and intrapersonal skills which are considered very important in this era .

As a response to the transformation in the education system , the 21st century skills were
indirectly emphasized by the ministry of education to achieve the objectives of the plan and
create a generation of highly advanced . According to a study conducted by D' Andrea and
Daniels (2002 ) , it is found that the standard of students in the 21st century requires new skills
which are more competitive and successful in the world of education and everyday life. 21st
century skills normally used in describing various skills needed to succeed in a global age .
Therefore , the learning process in the classroom should include technological literacy ,
collaborative learning , the use of project -based learning approach and the application of higher-
order thinking such as critical thinking to synthesize and evaluate information to solve problems.

The 21st century skills that can be expressed in general are as follows : -

No Type of skill Description

1 Communication exchange thoughts and ideas through speaking and writing

2 Cross-Cultural Sensitivity to understand and work in a multicultural
3 Multilingual ability to communicate with more than one language

4 The management skills to manage and help others perform, solve problems and
conflicts
5 Team Work to work in a team to achieve a goal
6 Creativity can contribute ideas that are creative and artistic in solving a
 problem
7 Ability To Adapt the ability to cope with and adapt the change
8 Empathy the ability to understand the feelings and ideas of others of
their point of view
9 Stress Management (Relaxation) ability to control stress situation and identify the causes of stress
10 Ethics in Work discipline, good work and high ethics
11 Self-Discipline self-control of behavior in terms of counseling and personal

12 Responsibility aspiration to achieve a high level of accountability

13 Discriminatory Thought ability to adapt to different thoughts
14 Grammar Skills having the ability to produce insights and a better idea
15 Analytical skills ability to use logical reasoning and abstract
16 Economy & Business ability to apply principles of economic and business relations

17 Mathematical Skills ability to use and apply mathematical theory in life

18 Computer skills ability to use a computer in daily life

19 Online shopping the ability to use online communication as a tool in the
purchasing things
Teachers Challenges in education at 21st Century.

One of the critical challenges of the twenty first century is to address issues of value-based
education in curriculum as well as recognizing the role of teachers and lecturers as facilitators of
changes in education curriculum. There should be collaboration between the policy makers and
the teaching force to ensure efficient and effective implementation of the policy prescriptions.
Any policies that ignore the teachers is likely to fail. The teacher exposed to continuous
professional development and encouraged to be a researcher (Action Researcher) in a more
flexible, cooperative adaptable, and participatory manner.

The other educational challenge is that the teacher is not well trained in the action research
process in order to generate knowledge for effective policy making. Let me make some
comments about the purpose of action research and how power of knowledge can change the
world positively. As a reflective practitioner, individual teachers make personal commitments to
contributing to education development and embark on a process that will foster continuous
growth and development.Teachers at any level (pre-primary, primary, secondary, college or
university make progress on school wide priorities. In fact, schools are increasingly focusing on
strengthening themselves and their programs through teamwork and common strategies . The
challenges facing Africa in general and the East African Community can be solved by first
Africans themselves at the grass-root level and bench mark with best practices from developed
countries. The teacher needs to be well prepared for this critical task.

Educational challenges can be resolved by building professional . In this regard,an entire

school, sub-county or county (district) will share commitment to student development,yet the
group finds itself unable to adopt a common focus for action research. Professionalizing teaching
and positive teacher-self efficacy , especially in African countries, ensures the profession is
accorded high regard . The low premium attached to education notwithstanding, teachers
should work as a team of professionals to ensure multifarious and intertwined problems facing
education are addressed by professionals themselves. Enhanced teacher motivation and efficacy
makes teachers work more hours, generate dependable solutions through action research and
positively contribute to solutions of multiple challenges facing the continent Ensure teachers
form professional bodies and focus on problem solving for the good of society.

In addition, the elements contained in the 21st century skills are creativity and innovation ,
critical thinking and problem solving , communication and collaboration , information literacy ,
media literacy, information and communication technology , adaptability ( flexibility ) ,
productivity and the accountability and responsibility . These elements have existed naturally for
each individual , however , these skills requires consistent reinforcement and clearer goals. These
skills are subjective , consolidation given is to establish a more systematic description . For
example , in exposing students to the world of cyber -based information and communications
technology ( ICT ) , positive values should be emphasized in order to create awareness among
them.

Most of the skills of the 21st century is based on the exposure to ICT , compared to the past
where literacy only covers reading, writing and counting . 21st century skill involves digital
literacy . Teachers play an important role in guiding students to surf the internet , search the web,
selecting appropriate software and collect information . Teacher also can raise awareness globally
on digital era because it is easily accessible. In the 21st century education , ' soft skills ' needed to
help students to communicate in discussions that encourage them to interact with each other.
Interactive communication not only physical confrontation ( face to face ) these days, even those
communications extend to cyberspace as in Facebook and Twitter .
 One of the critical challenges of the twenty first century is to address issues of value-based
education in curriculum as well as recognizing the role of teachers and lecturers as facilitators of
changes in education curriculum. There should be collaboration between the policy makers and
the teaching force to ensure efficient and effective implementation of the policy prescriptions.
Any policies that ignore the teachers are likely to fail. The teacher exposed to continuous
professional development and encouraged to be a researcher (Action Researcher) in a more
flexible, cooperative adaptable and participatory manner.

The other educational challenge is that the teacher is not well trained in the action research
process in order to generate knowledge for effective policy making. Let me make some
comments about the purpose of action research and how power of knowledge can change the
world positively. As a reflective practitioner, individual teachers make personal commitments to
contributing to education development and embark on a process that will foster continuous
growth and development. Teachers at any level (pre-primary, primary, secondary, college or
university make progress on school wide priorities. In fact, schools are increasingly focusing on
strengthening themselves and their programs through teamwork and common strategies . The
challenges facing Africa in general and the East African Community can be solved by first
Africans themselves at the grass-root level and bench mark with best practices from developed
countries. The teacher needs to be well prepared for this critical task.

Educational challenges can be resolved by building professional . In this regard an entire

school, sub-county or county (district) will share commitment to student development yet the
group finds itself unable to adopt a common focus for action research. Professionalizing teaching
and positive teacher-self efficacy , especially in African countries, ensures the profession is
accorded high regard . The low premium attached to education notwithstanding, teachers
should work as a team of professionals to ensure multifarious and intertwined problems facing
education are addressed by professionals themselves. Enhanced teacher motivation and efficacy
makes teachers work more hours, generate dependable solutions through action research and
positively contribute to solutions of multiple challenges facing the continent Ensure teachers
form professional bodies and focus on problem solving for the good of society.

Extent to which schools and higher education are developing 21st Century skills
In the era of information technology, computer knowledge will help students to compile
information and at the same time looking for a specific fact- effectively and quickly . Therefore ,
all schools in Malaysia were connected to each other through the internet. With the advent of 21st
century education, technology allow students to learning ' global classroom ' . Here they have the
opportunity to meet and exchange opinions about anything with their counterparts in other
schools and even with other students around the world .

In line with these demands, the quality of human resources were generated to our education
system . Our Prime Minister has outlined the characteristics of generation to be born in the new
millennium should inherit information ( including science and technology ) , the power of the
mind ( the creative and proactive ) , virtue and chastity ( including lovers ) , sense of identity ,
and entrepreneurship skills.

Application of computer skills in Smart Schools:

Along with the development of technology in this century, the existence of the Smart
Schools contribute towards the achievement of world-class education when ICT development
around the world affect Malaysia. Smart School is an educational agenda in preparation for the
21st century in which execution is to create transformation in the education system which
includes the curriculum, assessment system, learning management and administration. Smart
school is a continuing process to increase the use of ICT in education and focus on improving the
quality of teaching and learning, effectiveness of management and administration of schools and
teachers competency. ICT usage among students and teachers are encouraged to increase
productivity, excellence and the effectiveness of school management system.

Therefore, it is necessary to make the smart school to develop human capital with expertise in
the field of ICT, offset the digital divide between urban, rural and remote areas, to create a
society that is creative, critical and innovative, ICT-based learning culture and develop world-
class education. Availability of Smart School in the 21st century is very essential to produce
students who are intelligent, knowledgeable and competitive to face challenges as required by
National Vision. In addition, the ICT infrastructure in Smart Schools is provided and designed to
assist the implementation of the curriculum with effective. The use of ICT should be fully
exploited in order to give positive effect in learning.

Application of communication skills and team work in classroom:

The process of teaching and learning in the 21st century is still student centered learning.
In fact, it needs to be improved from what is practiced now . Teachers play a more important role
for students with fully engage students actively in all activities either inside or outside the
classroom. Teachers play role as facilitator in learning process and serve as an information
provider . Various teaching and learning activities involving team work must be planned by
teachers to build and strengthen pupils' interest in learning . Students are guided to be ready to
receive instruction and be able to continue their own learning . Students then were also trained to
be independent , communicate effectively, self-confident and enhance the sense of responsibility
In the framework of student-centered teaching and learning , pair teaching (an element of
teamwork in 21st century skill) in classroom which consisting of a teacher and an assistant teacher
to assist students who do not exceed 25 students also implement in some schools. Class condition
with two teachers with a small group of students should be made to improve and strengthen the
practice of teaching and learning process centered on the student .

Application of distance learning and modular based learning in schools, colleges and
universities:

Distance Learning ( PJJ) is a continuation of creative innovation in education from the 20th
century to the 21st century. The expansion of distance learning is supposed to go to secondary
and primary school level and not only limited in centers of higher education . Distance Learning
in the teaching and learning process using the 21st century skills taking account the following
factors :
• The number of school days is flexible ( not more than three days a week )

• Each learning center has computer facilities

• Use learning materials that have been published as a basis for students

• Special material that is planned to meet the individual learning needs

• variability ( flexibility ) curriculum content and learning materials through modular structure

• Establishment of a planned and systematic learning contain clear objectives , self- testing tools ,
learning activities and student feedback .

T he modular based learning is an approach that notes available in printed materials and /
or CD - ROM for one year of study. This module is available for all subjects at all levels of
schooling . Students can move on to the next module when finished using the module provided
without awaiting the teacher's instructions . This approach is already being practiced in
institutions of higher education. Students just need to adjust them according to their level of
ability . Through this system, students can change classes according to their ability in a subject.
For example, Year 2 students can learn Year 3 math if he has mastered Year 2 math skills.

As a conclusion, 21st century skills requires a change in educational approaches , which should
start at the school or classroom . Thus , awareness and skills of teachers and administrators in
preparing training programs for teachers and students will lead towards the realization of positive
change.

References
1. Wan Zah Wan Ali. (1997). Kepercayaan guru terhadap pengajaran dan implikasinya ke
arah kualiti pendidikan. jurnal Kebangsaan Pengetua-Pengetua Sekolah Menengah
Malaysia, 2, 26-31.
2. Abtar Kaur, 2001 Multimedia dan Internet Dalam Peningkatan Pemikiran Pelajar,
http://mdc.um.edu.my:88/abtar/lamangeeo.insf, Universiti Malaya 14

3. Brian, Getting, (2007) “Basic Definitions: Web 1.0, Web. 2.0, Web 3.0”,

4. Hizamuddin Awang, 2000 Pembelajaran Sepanjang Hayat,

http:// www.borneo-online.com.my

5. Jamaludin Mohaidin, 1999 Konstruktivisme: Aplikasinya dalam rekabentuk Pembelajaran

berasaskan web, Teknologi Instruksi Dan Pendidikan Bestari: Persediaan Dan Cabaran
Dalam Alaf Baru : 1-14, Persatuan Teknologi Pendidikan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

6. http://www.searchinpdf.com/pdf/hala-tuju-pendidikan-di-malaysia-abad-ke-21.html

7. http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/464-Basic-Definitions-Web-1-0-Web-2-0-
Web-3-0

8. http://www.scribd.com/doc/39146635/Pendidikan-Abad-Ke-21-Isu-Dan-Cabaran