Malaysia Teacher Prize Summit & Award Ceremony 2023
Why Prize Initiatives?
At the heart of every thriving education system is a teacher whose impact extends far beyond the walls of a classroom. Prize initiatives begin with a bold belief that teachers are not just facilitators of learning, but visionary leaders capable of transforming schools, communities, and systems.
The quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers and principals.
Teachers who feel that their work is valued by society are more satisfied with their job and more likely to report high levels of self-efficacy.
Improving teacher motivation is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve student learning outcomes.
By shining a spotlight on teachers’ work, we elevate the teaching profession, foster deep motivation, and unlock the untapped potential of educators to lead meaningful, scalable change.
What is the Malaysia Teacher Prize?
The Malaysia Teacher Prize is more than just an award. It is a national platform that celebrates, uplifts, and invests in teachers as system leaders. Designed to elevate the status of the teaching profession, MTP recognises educators who are transforming their classrooms and communities through innovative, impactful leadership. Our theme, “The Power of a Teacher, The Potential of a Nation,” captures this belief: when teachers thrive, so does the nation. By shining a spotlight on their stories, we aim to spark a movement, one that empowers teachers to drive change, influence policy, and reimagine what’s possible in Malaysian education.
Opening Applications: Welcoming Stories, Amplifying Voices
The journey begins with an open call for applications, welcoming teachers from all backgrounds to share their stories. Through essays and videos, teachers showcase their innovative practices and tangible impact on student learning and community development. This inclusive process ensures that teachers from diverse contexts are seen, heard, and celebrated.
Judging in Progress: Recognising the Extraordinary, Celebrating the Everyday
Every application undergoes a rigorous, multi-stage judging process led by a panel of experts from education, policy, civil society, and beyond. Through written assessments and interviews, judges identify teachers who embody innovation, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to student success, recognising both large-scale initiatives and everyday excellence.
Summit and Award Ceremony: Honouring Excellence, Inspiring the Nation
The Malaysia Teacher Prize culminates in the Summit and Award Ceremony, where Finalists share their classroom journeys and engage in conversations shaping the future of education. Finalists are also awarded a share of the RM75,000 prize pool to scale their impact and continue transforming lives. This national celebration brings together teachers, policymakers, students, and the public to honour the power of teachers and the potential they bring for our nation.
To learn more about the Malaysia Teacher Prize, please visit the official website.
Prize Initiatives Impact Highlights
Impact Metrics
of Finalists have gone on to win prestigious national and international awards.
of participants involved throughout the initiative agree that MTP has elevated the teaching profession.
of Finalists have significantly scaled their work, reaching more schools, students, and communities across Malaysia.
of Finalists have stepped into leadership roles within the Ministry of Education, where they are shaping policies and driving systemic change at scale.
of applicants agree that the application process helped them to reflect on my teaching journey.
of applicants agree that the application process helped them in identifying new areas in which they can contribute as a teacher in the future.
Impact Metrics
Leadership Position
Influence on an International Platform
High Level Policy Discussion
Impact Expansion
Global Recognition
Alumni Highlights
He started an entrepreneurial film-based programme that not only nurtured leadership and creativity among students but also successfully raised funds to purchase a boat, ensuring that students could reach school even during floods."
Cikgu Muhammad Nazmi
Winner of the Malaysia Teacher Prize
Cikgu Muhammad Nazmi, Winner of the Malaysia Teacher Prize 2023, from SK Long Sebangang, Sarawak, has achieved an extraordinary milestone by being named as one of the Top 10 Finalists for the prestigious 2025 Global Teacher Prize (GTP). Cikgu Nazmi is known for his innovation and dedication to educating the nation’s youth. One of his most inspiring initiatives is the Filpen Club, which not only empowers his students but also addresses local community challenges. While teaching at SK Luagan, Sarawak, he started an entrepreneurial film-based programme that taught students filmmaking, marketing, and financial literacy skills. This programme not only nurtured leadership and creativity among students but also successfully raised funds to purchase a boat, ensuring that students could reach school even during floods. Cikgu Nazmi is now working to expand this impact by organising the Filpen Festival in Sarawak to provide students across the state the opportunity to hone their creative skills through filmmaking.
Cikgu Nazmi’s educational journey has also been supported by PEMIMPIN’s initiatives. From 2021 to 2022, he participated in the Leadership, Enrichment, and Development (LEAD) Fellowship, a 10-month programme aimed at developing middle leaders in schools through evidence-based skills and best practices. During the GTP application period, Cikgu Nazmi also attended a support session organised by PEMIMPIN to help MTP Alumni effectively showcase their work.
Cikgu Anuthra’s faith in her students gave them the freedom and the opportunity to choose their path, and she believes every student has the potential and chance at innovation."
Cikgu Anuthra Sirisena
Winner of the Malaysia Teacher Prize 2022
Cikgu Anuthra Sirisena is the winner of the Malaysia Teacher Prize 2022. She is a Chemistry teacher from Tenom who has developed a few innovations to assist her teaching, including the gamification method. The impact could be observed when SPM Chemistry became one of the top ten subjects with excellent results in Sabah. Cikgu Anuthra’s faith in her students gave them the freedom and the opportunity to choose their path, and she believes every student has the potential and chance at innovation.
She is also the founder of Tenom Innovation Centre (TIC) which started when she ventured into the world of robotics alongside her friend by training 24 students for the Young Innovators Challenge. This initiative later grew into TIC which currently involves 12 teachers and 40 mentors from various secondary schools. To date, they have conducted more than 40 workshops and training sessions and have upskilled more than 2000 teachers and students in coding and robotics. Cikgu Anuthra has expanded TIC into 12 out of 24 districts in the state of Sabah through coaching and using the prize money as seed funds to support the teachers in each district.
Within his classroom, he integrates sustainability concepts via activities ranging from calculating electricity bills to automated plant watering with Microbit. "
Cikgu Khou Jerome
Top 10 Finalist of Malaysia Teacher Prize 2023
Cikgu Khou Jerome, a Top 10 Finalist of MTP 2023 is a steadfast teacher who ardently works in the field of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Within his classroom, he integrates sustainability concepts via activities ranging from calculating electricity bills to automated plant watering with Microbit. Along with a few teachers from various schools who are passionate in ESD, they co-founded an NGO called the Green Educator’s Workgroup (GREW) in 2021 that focuses on ESD and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for schools in Penang.
Under his tenure as GREW’s President, more than 50 activities / programs related to ESD have been carried out and they have benefited more than 10,000 students.
