Lee Kim Shin: Preschool Teachers are Life's Enlighteners – Sowing the Seeds of the Future and Illuminating Children's Star Light

(Miri, 28th) Sarawak Minister of Transport, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, stated that preschool teachers are the first enlightening teachers in a child's life, shouldering significant responsibilities in shaping character, cultivating morals, and building learning foundations. Therefore, they must continuously enhance their professional standards, keep pace with the times, and meet new educational challenges brought by the digital and artificial intelligence era.

He said that most children’s first experience leaving their parents and interacting with the outside world and group learning begins at kindergarten. Therefore, preschool teachers not only have the responsibility of imparting knowledge, but also the important mission of cultivating character, values, and learning attitudes.

During his speech at the Miri Preschool Teachers' Association’s 2026 Teachers’ Day celebration “Shining Night—Lighting Future Starlight,” the 2025 Long Service Teacher Awards Ceremony, and the 12th Council Inauguration Ceremony last night, Lee Kim Shin said that although he needed to attend several events that night, he still prioritized attending the Preschool Association’s event, reflecting his emphasis on the development of early childhood education.

He noted that society today has entered the digital and artificial intelligence era, and that education models are now completely different from the past. Preschool teachers can no longer rely on traditional teaching methods, but should actively master new educational concepts, digital technology, and teaching skills.

“I hope the Miri Preschool Teachers’ Association will continue to make good use of the school holidays to organize various training courses, especially encouraging experienced teachers to continue their studies, keep up with the times, and constantly improve their professional standards so that children can grow up in an even better educational environment.”

He also hopes that the new council members will continue to promote more professional trainings, helping teachers enhance their teaching abilities and lay a more solid foundation for the growth of the next generation.

Lee Kim Shin pointed out that in addition to being educators, preschool teachers often also play the role of caregivers, requiring love, patience, and a sense of responsibility. Thus, the job pressure is not light.

He said that while caring for students, teachers must also take good care of their own physical and mental health, as their mental state will directly affect their teaching quality and the growth of the students.

"Educators must first look after their own health, not only physical health, but also mental and emotional health, for their mental state can affect job performance."

He suggested that in the future, the Miri Preschool Teachers’ Association could organize more courses relating to stress management, emotional adjustment, and mental health, to help teachers learn how to face and relieve stress, and to avoid bringing negative emotions into the classroom and affecting children’s learning and development.

"Everyone faces stress, myself included, but the key is to know how to manage emotions and timely release pressure."

He said that early childhood education is a career of great responsibility and far-reaching impact. The development stage before the age of six is especially critical for children; their personality formation, learning attitude, and the ability to face future challenges are gradually established during this period.

“A word of encouragement, a smile, or a little patience from a teacher may become the most precious strength in a child's growth process. Education is a journey of quietly waiting for flowers to bloom, and preschool teachers are precisely the guides who light the way for children’s future.”

Lee Kim Shin also extended Teachers’ Day greetings to all preschool teachers and congratulated the nine principals and teachers receiving the 2025 Long Service Teacher Award, thanking them for their decades of unwavering dedication and silent contributions to early childhood education.

In addition, the inauguration ceremony for the 12th council of the Miri Preschool Teachers’ Association was also held that night. He is confident that under the leadership of the new council, the association will continue to unite industry colleagues and promote Miri’s early childhood education to higher levels.

A total of 9 principals and teachers received the 2025 Long Service Teacher Award that night. The list is as follows:
Principal Chan Poh Hua (44 years) — Chuba Kindergarten
Principal Fong Yueh Yun (41 years) — Peiyu Kindergarten
Principal Kwek Ching Yook (39 years) — Lutong Kindergarten
Principal Sim Shioh Fang (37 years) — Tapu Kindergarten
Principal Chai Sui Hua (30 years) — Wisdom Kindergarten
Pan Jia Mei (25 years) — Sunshine Kindergarten
Principal Ng Miao Yun (20 years) — Siwei Kindergarten
Cai Qiuxia (15 years) — Hope Kindergarten
Ong Pau Lan (15 years) — Chuba Kindergarten