Khalifa Affnan, a teacher at the Keningau Vocational College (Kolej Vokasional Keningau) in Sabah was announced as the winner of the 2022 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards and is also the first Malaysian teacher to be selected as a winner of both the global and regional levels of the awards.
Photo via New Sarawak Tribune
Khalifa was honored for his work on a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) project in which he taught his students about robotics, drones, coding, and other tech-related subjects.
According to the Cambridge University Press, his efforts enhanced the active participation of female students and special needs students in his STEM activities.
According to Kanjna Paranthaman, director of Cambridge University Press for ASEAN, Khalifa’s story is a watershed moment for Malaysian educators.
“Seeing a Malaysian teacher win the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards on both a global and regional level brings me great pride.
“This is a watershed event for Malaysian teachers, and it speaks volumes about the caliber of educators in the country. Khalifa’s STEM programs have made a significant contribution to ensuring that everyone in his community has access to a high-quality education,” she continued.
The Dedicated Teacher Awards, organized by Cambridge University Press is a global competition that recognizes and honors the contributions of educators from all over the world.
The program had over 7,000 nominations from 113 countries this year, with Khalifa being selected as one of the regional champions from Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.
Wah, this is HUGE!
What an amazing achievement. Congratulations, Cikgu Khalifa!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
