This Teachers’ Day, we honour not just those who teach, but those who pass the torch. In two Malaysian families, the calling to educate spans generations – evolving with the times, yet grounded in the same passion, purpose, and heart.
Lessons Passed Down, Passions Carried Forward
“If you think of your students as your own children, you’ll never grow tired of helping them.”
EVERY Teacher’s Day, we celebrate the tireless educators who shape lives quietly and profoundly. Teaching is a timeless calling – a thread that connects past and present, tradition and innovation, hearts and classrooms.
For some, it’s more than a profession – it’s a legacy passed down through generations.
In two families, the teaching legacy wasn’t just passed down – it was picked up again with renewed passion, whether drawing lessons in chalk on blackboards or marking ideas boldly with markers on whiteboards, yet the passion remains unchanged.
This is the story of two teacher-parent pairs – each from a different generation, each with distinct styles – but all united by a shared commitment to educating with heart.
Do everything with all your heart
In one home in Kuching, that torch has burned for over five decades – first lit by Hassan Wa’gani, a former school principal who never planned to become a teacher, but found purpose the moment he stepped into a classroom.
“Teaching wasn’t something I planned. My brother was a teacher. After Form 5, I got called for an interview and became a temporary teacher in 1974. From the start, I knew teaching was a great profession,” he recalled.
Back then, he said classrooms were much simpler with basic tools and very few teaching aids.
While he acknowledged the benefits of technology today, he also noted that modern classrooms come with their own challenges.
One personal test came when he was asked to teach a subject outside his area of expertise.
“It was very difficult at first, but I stayed positive and focused on doing my best. In the end, seeing my students succeed made it all worth it,” said this former principal of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tabuan Jaya.
Decades later, what brings him the most joy isn’t just former students’ success – it is knowing that three out of his four children followed his path into education.
One of them is Faizatul Azira Hassan, a Geography and Seni Visual teacher at Sekolah Kebangsaan Temenggong. Inspired by the example her father set, she stepped into the classroom with purpose.
“Seeing his success as a principal really inspired me. His hard work and the trust people had in him made me realise how meaningful this job is,” she said.
While her teaching methods are different – more student-centred and interactive – the values remain unchanged.
“I really respect how the older generation helped students grow not just in learning, but in becoming responsible people,” she added.
From her father, Faizatul inherited the mantra of always doing her best.
One phrase she heard often still guides her: “Do everything with all your heart.”
Unlike some second-generation teachers, she did not feel weighed down by her family’s legacy.
Instead, it motivated her. Seeing her father and siblings in the same profession gave her strength.
She also believed that the exchange between generations is a two-way street, with each learning and teaching in turn.
“We can definitely learn about patience and commitment from the older generation. From us, they can learn to adapt, accept change, and use creativity to connect with students today,” Faizatul said.
Teaching is a duty, not just a job
From one family to another, the spirit of teaching continues to thrive – shaped by changing times but rooted in a shared dedication to nurture and inspire.
Rabiah Bujang, who retired from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tun Abang Haji Openg after decades of teaching Sejarah and Bahasa Melayu, saw teaching not as a job but as a duty.
“It was a duty to shape knowledgeable and morally upright citizens. I had a deep passion for educating the younger generation – especially to develop individuals who could contribute to the nation,” she said.
She remembered a time when students were more focused and respectful in class. They were more disciplined and attentive, often taking an active role in discussions and group work.
Today’s classrooms, she said, are more technologically advanced – but attention is harder to keep.
One of her most memorable challenges was working with introverted students who struggled to feel confident in group settings. Her solution was to provide moral support and treat every student with equal care.
Rabiah takes pride in seeing her son carry the torch forward.
“Despite the challenges and how people view the profession today, my son still chose this path. It shows the spirit of teaching is still alive,” she added.
Her son, Nazri Syukri, now teaches Seni Visual, Sejarah and Pengurusan Seni at Sekolah Seni Malaysia Sarawak. From a young age, he had watched his mother juggle her dual roles – and that left a mark.
“She wasn’t just teaching academic subjects – she was guiding her students through life. That inspired me to do the same,” he said.
While Nazri embraced digital tools like projectors and screens, he still saw value in the older ways.
“Students today respond better to visual and hands-on learning. But I still value the classic approach, like giving individual attention,” he added.
He inherited patience and the principle of teaching without bias from his mother. But one thing he chose to do differently was openly address mental health in the classroom – a topic rarely spoken about in the past.
One lesson from his mother continues to guide him.
“She once told me, ‘If you think of your students as your own children, you’ll never grow tired of helping them.’ That advice has stayed with me ever since,” he emphasised.
While Faizatul found motivation in her family legacy, Nazri admitted there is some pressure, especially when others know his background.
“But I’ve learnt to turn that into motivation. It has helped me build my own identity as a fresh educator bringing new methods while still upholding traditional values,” he noted.
And like his peers, he believed there is much both generations can share.
“We can learn from their sincerity and wholehearted commitment to teaching. In return, they can learn from us how to adopt a more inclusive and open mindset,” he said.
One legacy, many voices
This Teachers’ Day, let’s remember: behind every lesson lies a legacy, and behind every legacy, a heart dedicated to learning – a gift that reaches far beyond the classroom walls.
Whether in chalk-dusted rooms or tech-filled spaces, teachers like Hassan, Rabiah, Faizatul, and Nazri remind us that teaching isn’t just inherited – it’s lived, evolved, and passed on with pride.
As Rabiah said, “A teacher who is sincere will have a lasting impact on their students.”
And as these families show, that impact doesn’t stop at the classroom door – it echoes across generations, shaping not only students but the very soul of education.
