A Song of Life: October 2016

On 17 October 2016, Deputy Education Minister II, YB Senator Datuk Chong Sin Woon made an official visit to the Pusat Kecemerlangan Pedagogi Peribumi Kebangsaan at IPG Kampus Tengku Ampuan Afzan (IPGKTAA) in Kuala Lipis, Pahang. It was indeed a great honour to have YB with us at the Teachers’ Training Institute that day. Thank you very much YB for taking the trouble to go all the way to Pahang to make this visit and to share some memorable moments with us.

IPG Kampus Tengku Ampuan Afzan was declared Pusat Kecemerlangan Pedagogi Peribumi Kebangsaan and Pusat Kecemerlangan Bahasa Melayu Zon Timur on 13 October 2009. This great event was officiated by the Deputy Education Minister, YB Dr. Hj Mohd Puad Zarkashi. As the sole institution which places great emphasis on the education of indigenous children, the Pusat Kecemerlangan Pedagogi Peribumi has since played an essential role in the educational development of the indigenous children of this country through special intakes of indigenous and non-indigenous trainee teachers who would serve the indigenous communities upon completion of their training program.

Schools play an important role in the educational outcomes for indigenous children and in encouraging them, their families and their communities to hold high expectations for their education. Since members of indigenous communities celebrate diversity in learning, the graduates of IPG Kampus Tengku Ampuan Afzan are well-equipped with a variety of teaching techniques and approaches to educate the indigenous children so as to enable them to learn effectively whilst at the same time enjoy being at school. Emphasis on the indigenous ways of knowing, learning, instructing, teaching, and training has created in the trainee teachers, whether indigenous or non-indigenous, an awareness of indigenous traditions beyond the school curriculum. Non-indigenous teachers who are exposed to cultural training and understanding of indigenous peoples’ values and ways of life during the early stages of their training program would be able to integrate well into the indigenous communities should they be given the opportunity to serve them one day.

Education was established as a fundamental human right in 1948 by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is an important asset which equips the human race with the knowledge, skills and values to make use of opportunities and face the challenges of life with confidence. As such, schools play an essential role in ensuring that the indigenous children are not left behind in attaining intellectual, physical, social, emotional, moral, spiritual and aesthetic development. Excellent teachers have the capacity to transform the lives of students and to inspire and nurture their development so that they would become responsible citizens of the country. In trying to enhance the educational development of the indigenous children, the trainee teachers of IPG Kampus Tengku Ampuan Afzan are always ready with the most effective pedagogical approaches that are relevant to their background and environment and which suit their needs.

The Pusat Kecemerlangan Pedagogi Peribumi would continue to conduct seminars and workshops, produce publications and modules, and carry out research particularly in the field of indigenous studies. It is hoped that with sufficient funds from the Education Ministry, IPG Kampus Tengku Ampuan Afzan would be able to make a quantum leap not only in the educational development of the indigenous children of this country but all Malaysian children as well.

The photo gallery below clearly illustrates this special event in chronological order.