Kindergarten teacher wins Muis award in new category for promising youth
The Straits Times|August 13, 2023
As an intern at a social service centre in 2020, Ms Nur Hidayah Mohd Tahir was upset when she came across a pre-school child who had been neglected by his parents.
Zaihan Mohamed Yusof
Kindergarten teacher wins Muis award in new category for promising youth

The parents said the boy missed school regularly because they could not afford diapers for him.

Ms Nur Hidayah, now 24, also saw malnourished pre-schoolers, or those who came to school dirty and unwashed.

She said: "Sometimes, we can see... bruising on children during morning visual checks.

"You would also see a change where the child may exhibit very aggressive behaviour or become very distant from teachers and peers. Others may refuse to be accompanied to the toilet for fear of disclosing the bruises."

She could have easily ignored the signs, but her curiosity and passion for working with children and those who might be facing abuse helped make a difference in their lives.

On Saturday, Ms Nur Hidayah, now a kindergarten teacher, was among nine recipients of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) Awards 2023 at the Istana, winning the Promising Youth Award - a new category.

The Muis awards recognise significant contributions made by outstanding individuals in Singapore's socio-religious sector.

This story is from the August 13, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.

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This story is from the August 13, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.

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