In Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, one teacher’s passion for music has struck a chord far beyond the classroom. Cikgu Stefanus Lucas, an educator at SK Pendidikan Khas (P) Kota Kinabalu, has just been awarded the prestigious RISE Educator Award 2025 along with a RM50,000 grant to bring his dream project to life. His vision? To use music as a bridge for students with special needs to discover confidence, communication, and creativity.
This national recognition, presented by Taylor’s College and its youth arm, The Risers, puts Cikgu Stefanus in the spotlight for his tireless efforts in breaking barriers in inclusive education. Not only did he receive a RM5,000 personal award, but his school will also receive RM50,000 to enhance their music-based education program one specially tailored for students who are visually or hearing impaired.
Music That Empowers, Not Just Entertains
What makes Cikgu Stefanus’s approach so impactful is his belief that music is more than a subject, it’s a language. Despite limited resources, he created a specialized music room, founded a student boy band, and gave his students a platform to express themselves. His next goal is even bigger which is to build Sabah’s first student ensemble combining traditional and modern instruments, as well as a music space tailored by deaf learners.
“To many, music may seem like a luxury but to my students, it’s a lifeline,” he shared. “It helps them connect, express, and believe in themselves.” This message has resonated across Malaysia, as the RISE Educator Award received more than 1,000 nominations and over 65,000 public vote this year which the highest yet since its inception.
Celebrating Teachers Who Build, Lead, and Inspire
Beyond Cikgu Stefanus, four other passionate finalists were also recognized for their commitment to education, each receiving RM1,000, while their school were awarded RM10,000 each to enhance infrastructure and student learning. Their efforts show that change can begin in the smallest schools, as long as the heart is big.
The RISE Educator Conference 2025, themed “Impactful Teaching, Purposeful Learning,” hosted a powerful line-up of events. Keynote speaker Puan Fadzliaton Zainudin from the Ministry of Education Malaysia emphasized that real change starts with acts of care and purpose. A touching Fireside Chat with past winner Shawn Stanly Anthony Dass reminded attendees that relationship often matters more than pedagogy in transforming lives.
A Platform That Fuels Real Educational Change
Organised by Taylor’s College, the RISE Educator Award is more than just recognition, it’s a growing movement. Over the past five years, it has celebrated 18 educators and chanelled more than RM200,000 in funding to schools across Malaysia. Strategic collaborations with the Ministry of Education and Teach For Malaysia have made the program stronger and more far-reaching.
This year’s judging panel included prominent education advocates such as Chan Soon Seng (Teach for Malaysia), Kartini Sahirin (MOE), and 2024 winner Shawn Dass. Their evaluations were based on the educator’s creativity, impact, and sustainability, these three pillars that define long-term transformation.
Campus Director Josephine Tan summed it up best “These teachers don’t wait for ideal conditions. They create opportunities with what they have, driven by purpose, not recognition.”
Where Purpose Meets Progress
As we celebrate the winners of the RISE Educator Award 2025, it’s clear that teachers like Cikgu Stefanus are not just teaching, they are reshaping futures. Their courage and creativity prove that education can heal, inspire, and uplift. In classrooms across Malaysia, impactful teaching is not a dream, it’s a reality built by teachers who believe in every child’s potential.
