Head of Research and Innovation at Keningau Vocational College and president of HIVE Educators, a registered Sabah-based teacher association, Dr. Sirhajwan Idek is his students’ number one supporter. With his guidance and encouragement, many of Dr. Idek’s students have received recognition for their vocational or social impact projects, with some of them even winning grants worth RM 20,000.
His mentorship extends to his fellow colleagues as he has inspired teachers to innovate their teaching practices and scale up their approach. He himself has pioneered a virtual international project, Virtual, Remote, Live (VRL), which connects students and teachers in the country with their international or interstate counterparts. Equipping students through conference presentations, masterclasses and exchange classes, the project has been recognised as one of the best education practices in Southeast Asia by SEAMEO and VOCTECH.
With VRL, Dr. Idek has managed to transcend the geographical barriers that limit accessibility. Of his own selflessness and passion for education, he has dismissed the financial barriers too. Through his free English language classes, two of his students have become the first two Malaysian school students under the Ministry of Education to qualify as finalists for Global Student Prize in 2022 and 2023 respectively.Dr. Idek was also honoured with the Charismatic National Youth Icon Award in 2022 from the Sports and Youth Ministry, as well as the National Teacher Icon Award in 2017 from the Ministry of Education.
Making impact is equipping, enabling and empowering people with the skills, understanding and opportunities to realise their goals and dreams.