What do you do when you need to inspire a group of kids to perform better at school? For one elementary school teacher in Sarawak, Malaysia, it means digging into her own pocket to provide a unique incentive.
Cikgu Anne Margarette Kho, known affectionately to her students as Cikgu Anne, the teacher has turned her classroom at Belipat Elementary School into a microcosm of real-world reward and recognition.
Atas inisiatif Kedai Runcit beliau untuk murid Pemulihan di SK Belipat Lawas ❤️ pic.twitter.com/0MeYrObkrT
— Muhammad Nazmi (@chuckee_little) May 15, 2023
Collect stars to redeem gift at Kedai Runcit
In an innovative move, Cikgu Anne set up a mini “Kedai Runcit” in her classroom, where students can exchange stars they’ve earned through academic performance and good behavior for various gifts like stationery, toys, mugs, and even essentials like toothbrushes.
But here’s the kicker: the gifts are funded entirely by Cikgu Anne herself.
This revolutionary approach has not only caught the attention of her students but has also won her the prestigious 2023 McDonald’s Teacher Inspiration Award.
The award presentation ceremony took place in Malacca, where the Minister of Education, overwhelmed by Cikgu Anne’s dedication and creativity, broke into tears during her speech.
My wife buat our Menteri Pendidikan Dr @FadhlinaSiddiq cried today at Hari Guru Kebangsaan today. 😭😭😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/VggR9mojah
— Muhammad Nazmi (@chuckee_little) May 15, 2023
Cikgu Anne’s husband, Muhamad Nazmi, took to Twitter to praise his wife’s extraordinary efforts. In his post, he highlighted the initiative was targeted at impoverished students at Belipat Elementary. Accompanying the post were several pictures of Cikgu Anne’s “Kedai Runcit,” stocked with prizes ready to be claimed.
Netizens were quick to praise Cikgu Anne’s dedication and ingenuity, with many offering to sponsor her “Kedai Runcit.”
The overwhelming support is a testament to the power of Cikgu Anne’s idea – inspiring students to strive for better through tangible rewards.
In an era when educators worldwide are trying to find effective ways to motivate students, Cikgu Anne’s self-funded rewards system is a shining example of how out-of-the-box thinking and a little self-sacrifice can make a big difference.
