IT is very important for us to emphasise the critical role teachers play in nation-building.
Teachers play a very important part in society. Teachers face many challenges, not only in educating students, but also in ensuring that they become useful members of society.
A teacher’s duties are even more challenging in this day and age. With new communication technologies easily accessible, students are exposed to both the good and bad in the cyber world. Many materials available on the Internet can have a negative influence on students.
Bullying on and offline, smoking, drug abuse, gangsterism and other negative activities are common complaints of parents and teachers.
We must remember that teachers are trying their best to
deal with indiscipline, and the community at large must support teachers, who are, after all, building good character in students.
Sadly, some people blame teachers for the delinquent behaviour of students.
Granted, the problem of delinquent behaviour is not easy to deal with, but everyone must play his or her part in putting an end to this growing menace.
In this age, where things go viral easily, innocent teachers can be unfairly targeted.
We must not be quick to blame teachers. Rather, we need to give them our continuous support.
By focusing only on teachers, we are moving away from a solution to the problem.
As such, everybody must play his or her role in helping teachers educate children, not only for them to pass exams, but also
for them to become good individuals and useful members of society.
Pointing fingers and finding fault will not help fight growing delinquency among youth. Parents, family members and the community must carry out their responsibility to see children become useful members of society.
DR MUZAFFAR SYAH MALLOW
Senior lecturer, Faculty of Syariah & Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia