RISE Educator Award organised by Taylor’s College and its student engagement arm, The Risers crowned the winners of its two categories, RISE Educator of the Year and RISE Educator Award at Taylor’s Lakeside Campus. RISE Educator Award is currently in its third year celebrating educators in the nation who are making a difference in the lives of students by empowering and supporting them in accessing and attaining education.
Five finalists were selected from over 200 inspiring stories, and in recognition of their endeavours to ensure inclusivity and equity for all students, Taylor’s College awarded RM10,000 each to the finalists’ schools. These educators and their nominators come from various states across Malaysia, including Selangor, Kedah, Kelantan and Sabah to join the ceremony. The ceremony was graced by Zainal Abas, Director of Educational Resources and Technology Division at the Ministry of Education. “On behalf of the Ministry of Education, I commend Taylor’s College for acknowledging the invaluable role of teachers and the significance of inclusive education for all with RISE Educator Award. By embracing the power of technology for positive change, it exemplifies our commitment to equipping students with the necessary tools and skills to succeed. It is through such collective efforts that we can create a future where every learner is empowered and where education becomes a transformative force," he said.
The RISE Educator of the Year title was awarded to Cikgu Kumaresan Muniandy, a special needs teacher at Sekolah Menengah Pendidikan Khas Vokasional Merbok Kedah. His inspiring journey of providing vocational training for children with special needs to ensure their smooth transition to the workforce captivated the hearts of the award’s panel of judges, which included last year’s RISE Educator of the Year, Cikgu Hazeem Azemi from SMK Kuala Krau, Pahang.