About Me

My name is Tan Liong Kea. I was born in Sungai Mati, Muar, Johor, Malaysia in the year 1958.

I was brought up in a poor rural family. In my studying life, I never know what tuition is all about.

I finished my primary school education in SJK(C) Chong Hwa, Sungai Sendok, Muar and SJK(C) Pei Hwa, Sungai Mati, Muar. My lower secondary education was completed in SMJK Pei Hwa, Sungai Mati, in the year 1974. In 1975, I continued my upper secondary school education in St. Andrew School, Muar. I left the the school in 1976 after got through my MCE examination.

I was then successfully applied into High School Muar to pursue for my Lower six education in 1977. I passed my HSC in 1978. During my two years in High School Muar, I was really suffering! Although the government had already implemented the borrowing book scheme (SPBT) for poor students in 1977, but the privilege never come to me. Thanks for some of my classmates who were able to buy their own books, but at the same time were also given the borrowing of books priorities, shared out some of their books with me.

My dreamed to enter into one of the local university was tarnished when I failed to obtain a scholarship. Lucikly, I was given the opportunity to the Teacher's Training College- MPRM in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan in 1978.

I was graduated in 1981 as a Chinese Primary school teacher. I started my teaching life in SJK(C) Pei Hwa, Teluk Kembang, Pengerang, in 1981. The whole school has only two classrooms and one headmaster. I was the only teacher in the school, and was given the Standard 4, 5 and 6 jioned class to teach. Standard 1,2 and 3 joined class was under the headmaster himself. Of course, both of us had to teacher all the subjects in our class(es). My teaching practical was carried out in a school with such a deplorable condition!

Unfortunately, towards the end of my practical teaching, my brother passed away. It was a big blow to me, because my parents lost their sole support in the family. I tried to apply back to my hometown to look after my parents, but was unsuccessful. I once opted to quite the teaching post, but was withdrawn later becauce I could not afford the compensation payment to the government.

In 1984, I successfully applied into UKM Sains Hayat Faculty. I was graduated from UKM in 1988. My first posting school was SMK Vokasional, Segamat, in Johor. The school was not offering the Biology subject, so I was teaching Science subject in the school for about 6 years until 1994.

In 1993, I heard the school was going to convert into SM Teknik with no Biology and Science subjects in the school. I applied for the transfer to teach Form 6 Biology in High School Segamat. In April 1994, I was being transferred out to SMJK Seg Hwa, Segamat. As I received my transfered letter in the middle of the year, the Principal of the new school made the assumption that I was a problem teacher.

I was under tight scrutiny all the time in my new school. In 1994, KBSM was just implemented. I was the JU for Science subject, so I used the "student centered" teaching method in my new school, but was strictly warned by the principal!

In 1995, I was very frustrated and fed up with my teaching. I started to look for private sector post and went for many interviews, but unsuccessful.

The turning point of my life began in 1996, when I was accepted into UUM, Sintok, Kedah to follow the twinning Master Course sponsored by IAB. I graduated as Master in Science (Management) in 1997. I applied back to the same school again because the old Principal had already retired.

With higher qualification, I regained my confidence. In 2003, I applied for Guru Cemerlang. After being assessed by the inspectorates, colleagues and students, finally I got through all the obstacles and was promoted from DG41 to DG48 in the year 2003.

IN 2007, I started to write Biology reference book and reviewed STPM Biology books for the publishers. At the same time, I applied for Guru Cemerlang DG52. I was being assessed by two inspectorates for the whole morning. The good news came in 2008, I was again successfully promoted to the DG52 Guru Cemerlang post.

I got married in 1990. I have 3 children now.

I have keen interest in table tennis. I play table tennis, and also involve in table tennis umpiring. I was awarded International Umpire (IU) by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in 2002. In the year 2006, I was appointed as Malaysian Umpire for the Commomwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.

I have to forfeit the opportunity to become international umpire after I was appointed as Guru Cemerlang. The Guru Cemerlang post gives me a lot of extra workload. Furthermore, I am now the chairman for Majlis Guru Cemerlang Segamat.