For Wan Nor Izzaidah Wan Aziz, the Malay language subject has helped strengthen the bond between her and her students at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Permas Jaya here.

The 25-year-old teacher said despite being surrounded by students and fellow educators of a different race and religion, the camaraderie and compatibility among them have also strengthened her determination to continue teaching at the school.

The Kelantan native told Bernama that it did not take her long to adapt to the school atmosphere because the students, teachers and the headmistress treated everyone equally, like one big family.

“I have many sweet memories here, but the sweetest is when my students understand and apply my teachings.

“Among my achievements is successfully coaching a student for a Malay poetry recitation competition for schools at the district level. I’m happy that the student performed well,” she said.

Wan Nor Izzaidah said she also had the opportunity to get to know the Indian community through the Tamil language and learn about their culture and festivals, such as Deepavali and Ponggal.

The former student of the Islamic Studies Campus of the Teacher’s Education Institute (IPG) in Bangi, Selangor said she was lucky to be born in this country, where harmony and understanding are easily attainable, thanks to the high level of tolerance and openness within the society.

Meanwhile, the school headmistress K. Sagilah, 58, said Wan Nor Izzaidah is loved by many because of her cheerful and friendly nature, and her sincere dedication to educating students.

“In this school, everyone is treated equally, regardless of ethnicity, and Cikgu Wan willingly participates in all school activities.

“For instance, when we buy sarees, we make sure to buy one for her to make into baju kurung. During the Teacher’s Day celebration, we bought sarees of the same colour for everyone, including Wan and two preschool assistants who are Malay,” said Sagilah.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency