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Writer's pictureCatherine Ooi

Teach For Malaysia (TFM): Bridging Malaysia's Education Gap

In a recent episode of AreWeOK, Peter (aka MrMoney) and Dr. Ong Kian Ming explore the incredible work of Teach For Malaysia, a Malaysian non-profit organisation with a mission to bridge the education gap in underprivileged communities across Malaysia, with a special guest invited to the show being the CEO of Teach For Malaysia, Chan Soon Seng.


Homepage screenshot of Teach For Malaysia's website with headline "It started with a vision..." and subheading "One day, all children in Malaysia will hae the opportunity to realise their potential through quality education"
Source: Teach For Malaysia's Official Website

Teach For Malaysia's Mission in Empowering Underprivileged Students


Education isn’t just about getting good grades or passing exams—it’s a powerful tool for change, and Teach For Malaysia is using it to empower students who have the odds stacked against them.


Primary school students lounging outside of school building in a rural area

Placing the Right People In The Role


Soon Seng highlighted how the organisation recruits passionate individuals to teach in under-resourced schools, where the need is greatest. These teachers aren’t just educators—they’re mentors, role models, and, in many cases, the key to opening up opportunities for underprivileged children who otherwise might never dream of a brighter future.


Teach For Malaysia Landing Page Screenshot of Recruiting and Developing talents as teachers
Source: Teach For Malaysia's Official Website

Challenges Faced in This Pursuit


However, it’s not without its challenges. This conversation also raised the daily struggles faced by both teachers and students, from a lack of basic teaching materials to the emotional weight of dealing with societal expectations. Despite these hurdles, Teach For Malaysia’s mission remains unwavering—each success story is a step toward a more equitable education system.


Screenshot of Teach for Malaysia's official website depicting the challenges faced in Malaysia's education gap for underprivileged students
Source: Teach for Malaysia's Official Website

Catalyst for Social Mobility Progression


They have also discussed the positive ripple effect education has on underprivileged communities.


When students from disadvantaged backgrounds thrive, their families and the larger society benefit. Education becomes the catalyst for positive change in many ways, and this video reminds us why it’s so vital to support these efforts.


Curious to learn more? Tune in to the full video on AreWeOK's YouTube channel as they dove deeper into how you can get involved, from supporting the cause to simply spreading awareness on their effort to change lives of underprivileged communities through education.







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