"Guru Bitara" - Key To Success Of National Education Plan 2026-2035 - Education DG

KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Bernama) -- The concept of “Guru Bitara” has been identified as a key pillar in ensuring the success of the National Education Plan (RPM) 2026-2035 in addressing global challenges and digital transformation over the next decade.

Education Director-General Datuk Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said the concept goes beyond a title, describing educators with outstanding qualities that encompass knowledge, skills, emotional balance, and spiritual strength in shaping a generation of well-rounded individuals.

He said the RPM, launched early this year by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, outlines a clear strategy to nurture individuals who excel not only academically but also in soft skills.

“That is why the educated individuals we aim to produce require teachers who are bitara. A Bitara teacher is unmatched in passion, knowledge, skills, emotional and psychological balance, as well as commitment to the responsibility and trust of educating the nation’s children,” he said.

Mohd Azam said this during an appearance on the “Ruang Bicara” programme titled Guru Bitara Nadi Negara, aired on Bernama TV yesterday.

Commenting on the 2026 National Teachers’ Day theme, “Guru Bitara Nadi Negara", he said the teaching profession faces increasingly complex challenges in the digital era, especially with the rise of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the influence of a borderless world that demands transformation in teaching methods.

“Teachers must understand the challenges our children will face in the future. They are growing up in a borderless world, where external values are increasingly influencing their lives. That is why we want to transform teachers into educators who are aligned with the needs of the times,” he said.

Regarding teachers’ welfare and workload, Mohd Azam assured that continuous efforts are being made to reduce non-professional administrative burdens so teachers can focus fully on classroom instruction.

He also reminded school administrators not to become overly focused on “ranking” culture or excessive competition in activities that could affect teachers’ creativity and mental well-being.

Touching on the national-level Teachers’ Day celebration in Perak on May 15, Mohd Azam announced a unique initiative in which 625 teachers are scheduled to deliver special Friday sermons at mosques across the state.

This year’s celebration, to be officiated by the Prime Minister, will be carried out in line with the government’s austerity measures while continuing to uphold the dignity and importance of the teaching profession in nation-building efforts.

-- BERNAMA