Indian Malaysian Who Sat For His BM SPM Paper 7 Times Is Now An Award-Winning Teacher
Kathiresan's story is a testament to the power of resilience and the impact of supportive mentors.
Most people would likely stop after a couple of attempts. But for Kathiresan Moorthy, his dismal grade of 7D for his Bahasa Melayu SPM paper in 2002 became the first step in an extraordinary journey.
It transformed Kathiresan from a discouraged student — who had to re-sit the paper a total of seven times — into an award-winning teacher, who now lights the way for countless others.
Growing up in Pahang, Kathiresan dreamt of becoming a teacher. However, the Bahasa Melayu benchmark, the gateway to his dream, proved to be a formidable obstacle. Each of the seven times he sat for the paper was a test of his determination. While technically scoring passing marks, each D felt like a hurdle.
But Kathiresan refused to be defined by limitations. Fueled by his mother's unwavering support and the guidance of dedicated teachers, he refused to give up.
"My mom always said, 'Keep working hard even if you have to do it again. There must be a good path for you'," FMT Lifestyle quoted Kathiresan as saying during a recent interview.
Those seven years were some of his hardest in life. He ran a cafeteria to fund his studies while facing discouraging remarks.
"I faced many challenges during those seven years. I had to fund my studies and I didn't have any support. Many people said, 'You're too old to be a teacher'; 'You can't teach there'; 'You don't stand a chance'," Kathiresan shared.
Kathiresan operated a modest cafeteria at the Kuala Lipis Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) campus to make ends meet. However, after his sixth attempt at sitting for the Bahasa Melayu paper, the weight of disappointment threatened to overwhelm him. He was on the verge of giving up on his teaching dream when two senior teachers intervened.
"They encouraged me to try again and bought books for me to study. I read as many Bahasa Melayu articles and magazines as I could to improve my proficiency," he shared with Sin Chew Daily.
According to Kathiresan, he is also indebted to his Tamil language primary school teacher and his mathematics secondary school teacher, both of whom provided him with their support and guidance.
On his seventh attempt, he finally scored a B+.
But this wasn't just a personal victory; it was a symbol of hope for every marginalised student battling self-doubt and societal pressures.
"I felt very proud when I received the results. My mother's prayers were finally answered," shared Kathiresan, who was 24 at the time.
The B+ marked a turning point in Kathiresan's life.
He landed a temporary teaching position, and while navigating the classroom, he enrolled in a bachelor's programme for physical education at the Raja Melewar Institut Pendidikan Guru in Seremban.
Balancing teaching with rigorous studies demanded immense effort, but at 32, he emerged with a first-class degree, his journey transforming him from a student of unwavering spirit into a qualified teacher.
Teaching for Kathiresan isn't just about rote learning; it is about creating pathways to understanding by improving existing methods
He understood the struggles of weaker students, having walked that path himself.
His innovative methods, like the "Tapak Kaki Kathi" footwork aid for netball and the "8 Konstruk Kathi" reading kit, transformed classrooms into dynamic spaces where even the slowest learners could blossom.
The kinesiology teaching aid helped eight of his students at SK Kampong Aur qualify for state competitions, while the teaching kit was able to help all of his students at SK Bukit Ridan in Muadzam Shah to successfully read their textbooks in just six weeks, according to the report in Sin Chew Daily.
Kathiresan says he constantly tinkers with his methods, using research and self-reflection to tailor his approach to each student's unique needs. Forget dusty textbooks and one-size-fits-all lessons.
The award-winning mentor to 400 teachers believes in understanding each kid's story and then building lessons that captivate their attention and unlock their potential. No wonder his students thrive.
Today, Kathiresan coaches struggling SPM students, reminding them that their dreams, not their grades, define their worth
He also drops by SK Mahmud in Raub to coach his former colleagues.
Last month, he was named among the five finalists in Pemimpin GSL's 2023 Malaysia Teacher Prize. It honours exceptional educators.
But Kathiresan isn't done yet.
The 38-year-old — who shattered cultural barriers and became a beacon of hope for the Indian Malaysian community — is now pursuing a doctorate in sports science at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris in Tanjung Malim.
Watch Kathiresan talk about his journey below:
Meanwhile, read about these three inspirational Malaysian women who recently proved that success has no expiration date:
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