I am delighted to read the feedback from Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr. Anuwar Ali, an eminent Malaysian economist and former Vice Chancellor & Guru at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), who set aside his busy work schedule as Chair of National Minimum Wage Committee to comment on my story “King Edward VII School (KE7), Taiping has produced famous alumni who are leaders in public service, business & sports” published by newswav.com on 07 September. I quote, “The best of yesteryears Alumnus. In those days the bond between the teachers & their pupils are more enduring & meaningful.”
Based on my experience as a management educator, I agree with Prof Tan Sri Anuwar that the teacher-student bond is the emotional and professional connection between educators and learners that serves as a cornerstone for both academic success and personal growth. Students who feel connected to their teachers show higher levels of engagement, better attendance, and increased motivation to succeed. I found that a positive relationship provides a psychological safety net. Teachers serve as a crucial role models, helping students learn conflict resolution, empathy, values and communication skills.
For me, I have never been formally trained to be an educator Upon completion of my higher secondary school, I studied for industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology, a scientific study of human behavior in the workplace, the application of psychological principles to optimize organizational performance and employee wellbeing. The Industrial (I) Side focuses on individual behavior and personnel. It involves job analysis, employee selection, recruitment, IR, performance management, and training. For the Organizational (O) Side that focuses on broader social dynamics, motivation, and change management.
I realized the key elements of a strong connection is mutual respect by valuing each other's time, effort, and individuality. Creating an environment where students feel safe asking questions and expressing thoughts without fear of ridicule. So, teachers should show genuine interest in a student's wellbeing.
Zulkifly Baharom (hajizul50@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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