Teachers should regularly evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching methods, identify weaknesses and make improvements to ensure their approaches continue to have a meaningful impact on students’ learning, said Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.
He said the practice was becoming increasingly important as the education system undergoes rapid technological changes, particularly with the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI), which requires teaching methods to evolve alongside current needs.
Lee said Action Research provides teachers with an opportunity to assess their own teaching practices, determine what works, identify shortcomings and develop solutions to improve their approaches.
“Through Action Research, teachers review their own teaching methods, look at what works, identify weaknesses and find ways to improve them,” he said during the closing ceremony of the Sarawak Teacher Ambassador Symposium 2026, jointly organised by the Miri Teacher Ambassadors and the Miri District Education Office at Curtin University Malaysia here today.
Lee, who is also Senadin assemblyman, stressed that sharing the findings of Action Research was equally important, as effective teaching methods should not be limited to a single classroom.
He said successful approaches could benefit more schools and students across Sarawak when teachers shared their experiences and best practices. Even methods that did not produce the expected results could provide valuable lessons for other educators.
“If a method works well in our school, share it. If a project successfully sparks students’ interest in STEM, share it. If something is not particularly effective, that experience should also be shared so others can learn from it,” he said.
Lee also noted that rapid technological development had changed the role of teachers, who could no longer focus solely on delivering information. With the Internet and AI providing access to information within seconds, teachers now need to guide students in assessing information, thinking critically and using technology responsibly.
He said Teacher Ambassadors could play an important role in introducing new ideas and approaches in classrooms before sharing their experiences and findings with other educators.
The Sarawak Teacher Ambassador Symposium 2026, he added, was more than a competition to determine winners. It served as a platform for teachers and students from across Sarawak to exchange ideas and showcase their innovations through Digital Innovation, Integrated STEM Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Action Research.
Lee said such efforts were in line with the Malaysia Education Plan 2026-2035, which places emphasis on equipping the younger generation with the knowledge and skills needed to face future changes.
He added that STEM education was particularly important for Sarawak as the state continues to develop its digital economy, renewable energy, green technology, emerging industries and modern transport systems.
The transport sector itself, he said, would require skilled workers such as engineers, technicians and professionals in aviation, land transport and maritime fields.
He cited the development of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS), including the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART), which requires expertise in engineering, electronics, control systems, hydrogen technology, maintenance and safety.
“We can buy the most advanced technology and bring in the best machines and systems, but ultimately, we must have Sarawakian children who are capable of understanding, operating and maintaining them,” he said.
Lee said the long-term goal was for Sarawak’s young people to move beyond simply using technology and eventually develop their own technologies and innovations.
He also stressed that opportunities to study STEM should be made available to students across Sarawak, including those in rural areas, as talent was not determined by location. Differences between urban and rural students, he said, were sometimes simply a matter of access and exposure.
Lee hoped the Teacher Ambassador Symposium would continue beyond the competition, with promising ideas, Action Research projects and innovations further developed, shared and implemented in schools.
He also congratulated the 60 Miri District Teacher Ambassadors, as well as all teachers, students and parties involved in organising the Sarawak Teacher Ambassador Symposium 2026.
Also present were Sarawak Education Department School Management Sector deputy director Dr Les Met, Miri District Education Officer Jumari Hashim and Curtin University Malaysia Faculty of Business dean Prof Pauline Ho.
