The aspirations of a blind teacher

“I feel responsible for students like me to have an education, and to at least succeed like me.”

That was the expression expressed by a blind teacher for his students.

Wan Mohd Suhaimi Wan Mohd Zawil Abidin, 31, had aspirations of becoming a teacher since he was a child.

He never allowed his disability to hold him back from teaching- this teacher from Kota Bahru, Kelantan, wanted to prove that those who are special can succeed like everybody else.

“I feel like the responsibility for me is higher. I am responsible to ensure that my students will succeed. If I can, why can’t they?” he said when met by Astro AWANI.

Even though the challenge for all teachers is the same, Suhaimi explains that the journey in education is different.

He gives an example of teachers in special schools, who need to be more creative and innovative to ensure their students understand every subject taught.

“I want to ensure that my students can understand everything I teach. With their disadvantages and special needs, for me it was quite hard. I too have a disability, I can’t see, yet I am in the same environment as them. For me to ensure they understand what I am teaching is quite difficult,” said the teacher of Jalan Batu Kuala Lumpur Special Education School.

“A teacher inspires creativity, in class, the first step is to ensure that our students succeed outside of school. With a creative teacher whether he or she is creativite in teaching, in leading, in educating their students, it must come from within. If a teacher is not creative and is boring, their students will quickly get bored too,” he added.

Suhaimi stressed that every teacher needs to be highly motivated when teaching.

“When we have a high motivation, I am sure, we will feel that we are responsible for the children and will teach them to the best of our abilities,” he said.

Suhaimi hopes that his special needs students will continue to strive and give their support to teachers to educate them.

It is clear that the perseverance and sacrifice of these special teachers should cherished and every teacher should be remembered until the end of time.

Happy Teachers Day!