Interaction for Unity among Trainee Teachers at Selected Teacher Training Institutes in East Malaysia
Authors: Ahmad Abdul Razaq , Hj. Bachora Najamuddin 
Published: March 2019

The purpose of this study was to identify the level of tendency for interaction among trainee teachers at the Malaysian Institutes of Teacher Education (ITE) in the states of Sabah and Sarawak. The study also examined demographic predictors of interaction levels and considered how interaction takes place in different environments at the institutes among students of different ethnicities. Special attention was given to how trainee teachers interact while they participate in curricular and co-curricular activities, in the residential colleges and during their daily activities as well as online. Demographic factors included level of study, ethnicity and religion. The sample consisted of 299 third semester foundation Bachelor of Education students (PPISMP) and final year Bachelor of Education students (PISMP). A self constructed questionnaire based on extensive literature review was used for data collection. Descriptive analysis revealed that the overall level of tendency for interaction among students of various ethnic groups was high. The highest was interaction in the co-curricular environment, followed by interaction in daily activities, interaction in the residential colleges, and interaction in curricular activities. The level of appreciation of unity among the students of various ethnic groups was high. Results also showed that relationship with peers was the strongest contributor to students’ tendency for interaction with people from different ethnic backgrounds, followed by school experiences, family influence and the mass media. These results are important for teacher educators and policy makers in diverse societies like Malaysia.

Abstrak

Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti tahap kecenderungan berinteraksi dalam kalangan guru pelatih di Institut Pendidikan Guru (ITE) Negeri Sabah dan Sarawak, Malaysia. Kajian juga meneliti prediktor demografi bagi aras interaksi dan mempertimbangkan bagaimana interaksi berlaku dalam pelbagai persekitaran di ITE di antara pelajar daripada pelbagai kumpulan etnik. Perhatian khusus diberikan kepada bagaimana guru pelatih berinteraksi semasa mereka mengambil bahagian dalam aktiviti kurikulum dan ko-kurikulum, di kolej-kolej kediaman dan semasa aktiviti-aktiviti harian mereka dan dalam talian. Faktor-faktor demografi termasuk tahap pengajian, etnik dan agama. Sampel terdiri daripada 299 orang mahasiswa semester ketiga Asasi Sarjana Muda Pendidikan (PPISMP) dan pelajar tahun akhir Sarjana Muda Pendidikan (PISMP). Soal selidik yang dibina sendiri berdasarkan tinjauan literatur yang luas telah digunakan untuk pengumpulan data. Analisis desriptif mendedahkan bahawa tahap kecenderungan berinteraksi keseluruhan di kalangan pelajar yang berbilang kaum adalah tinggi. Paras tertinggi ialah interaksi dalam persekitaran ko-kurikulum, diikuti oleh interaksi dalam aktiviti harian, interaksi di kolej-kolej kediaman dan berinteraksi dalam aktiviti-aktiviti kurikulum. Tahap penghayatan semangat perpaduan di kalangan pelajar yang berbilang kaum adalah tinggi. Keputusan juga menunjukkan bahawa hubungan dengan rakan sebaya adalah merupakan penyumbang kuat kepada kecenderungan para pelajar untuk berinteraksi dengan orang dari pelbagai latar belakang etnik, diikuti pengalaman sekolah, pengaruh keluarga dan media massa. Keputusan ini adalah penting untuk para pendidik guru dan penggubal dasar dalam masyarakat majmuk seperti Malaysia.