PUTRAJAYA: In line with its objective to create a higher quality education ecosystem in the country, the Education Ministry will launch the 'National Academia Day' celebration for the first time at University Malaya tomorrow.
The inaugural celebration, initiated and organised by the ministry, is to honour and recognise lecturers and staff from both public and private higher learning institutions in the country.
Some 400 lecturers and staff from these institutions, teacher training institutions (IPG), polytechnic institutes, community colleges, matriculation colleges and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), will gather at the university for the celebration from 10am until 12pm.
Polytechnic and Community College Education Department director-general Dr Mohammad Naim Yaakub said apart from celebrating Teachers Day every year, the ministry also wished to recognise the hard work put in by the teaching staff of these institutions as they serve as the front liners towards helping students achieve quality education.
He said the celebration would help the public to better understand and appreciate the roles of lecturers in the national education system.
"It will be a historic celebration as this will mark the first time the ministry is organising such an event for teaching staff from higher learning institutions.
"The academia, which includes lecturers, serves as an important role model for students in taking Malaysia forward.
"Besides teachers from the primary and secondary schools, university and college lecturers are also front liners in providing knowledge and guidance to students to help them become independent,” he said.
Mohammad Naim also urged lecturers to embrace the community aspect of teaching.
"Academia should go to the ground and find amicable solutions to problems so that students as well as the community can follow their good example. They should also know how to find solutions on how to make graduate students more employable and entrepreneurial.
"This is the meaning of academia, in terms of moving the country ahead through innovation and creativity," he told the New Straits Times.
The celebration, to be launched by Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik, is expected to be held annually nationwide.
Ity is also held in conjunction with Unesco World Teacher's Day with the theme ‘Academia With the Community’.
Among the activities expected to be held include an open day for public universities, academia forums and talks, mentor-mentee programmes, an academia fun run, faculty lecturer awards, and others.
