Abdul Rafie bin Mahat , Education
The former Director-General of Education who was born in
Negeri Sembilan, earned an Honours degree in Malay Studies and Geography from
University of Malaya in 1972. He began his career in education as a trainee at
the Regional Training Centre from 1965 through to 1966 in Melaka and taught
Geography at the Tun Mutahir Secondary School from 1966 to 1969. From 1972 to
1974, he continued an as a graduate teacher at the Abdul Rahman Yaacob
Secondary School, Merlimau, Melaka. He became the School Library Coordinator
with the Kelantan State Education Department from 1974 to 1977. He was
Principal of Dato’ Haji Talib Karim School, Alor Gajah, Melaka and Melaka High
School from 1982 to 1990.
The next appointment in his illustrious career was as Head
of Deputies to the Director of the Curriculum Unit, Schools Division, Malaysian
Ministry of Education, after which he became the Deputy Director of the Federal
Territory Education Department from 1995 to 1998, he was appointed the Director
of the Selangor Department of Education for a short period of 6 months, before
being appointed the Deputy Director-General of Education, Schools Division,
Ministry of Education, from 2000 to 2001. He became the Director-General of
Education in 2001.
His deep commitment in the field of education had remained
strong in him throughout his remarkable life. He involved himself in various
societies. One in which he was especially active was the Melaka Amateur Soccer
Association where he was the Vice President. He was advisor to the National Convention
of Principals of Malaysian Secondary Schools (PKPSM). He was also the President
of the Selangor Schools Sports Council, the Chairman of the Selangor Education
Cooperation, committee member of the Selangor Education Service Senior Officers
Association, Board Director of the Selangor Foundation and Board Director of
INSPENS College, Selangor.
He was also Board Director of the Employees Provident Fund,
member of the Selangor Religious Council, Board Director of the Tuanku Jaafar
Educational Trust, Board Member of the National Unverisity of Malaysia, and
Council Member of the Language Committee, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP). He
was also ex-officio of both Kelantan and Melaka School Associations.
Upon his tireless commitment towards the advancement of
national education, he was conferred various honors, among them wer the
Excellent Service Champion Award by the Melaka State Department of Education in
1982 and Group A Excellent Service Champion Award by the same Department in
1981. He was conferred the Excellent Service Certificate by the Ministry of
Education in 1988, Diagonal Salary Movement in the New Remuneration System
1992, Award for Best Participant in the Pra-JUSA course held on the 7th
to 29th August 1998 at INTAN Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, and the
Certificate of Appreciation on Excellent Service by the Selangor State
Government 1999.
Abdul Rafie bin Mahat died in 2006 and was buried in Melaka.
His contribution to Melaka had been numerous that he will forever be venerated
by all even until today.
Source: Melaka Museum
Corporation … find out more at the Museum.
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