Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has paid tribute to teachers, noting how their hard work had contributed to the success of their students.

“Many have succeeded as a result of the sweat and toil of dedicated teachers,” he said on Facebook in conjunction with Teachers’ Day.

He said these teachers had placed their students' development above everything else.

“In conjunction with this Teachers’ Day, whether we have left school decades ago or are still studying in classrooms, let us appreciate the contributions and sacrifices of these educators.

“Thank-you teachers, and Happy Teacher’s Day,” he said.

Najib had also tweeted his Teachers’ Day message, but certain netizens took a swipe at the prime minister and the allegations surrounding him.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (photo) called on the Education Ministry to give serious attention to the current teaching service scheme to ensure that it is improved.

He said the accolades showered on teachers during the Teachers' Day celebrations each year were not enough to appreciate the contributions of this group of people.

Instead, he said, their welfare should also be given attention through the teaching service scheme.

"I have confidence in the current education minister who has teaching background. Please do the best for your fellow teachers," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

He also urged the Education Ministry to take a serious look at the curriculum of cross-cultures as a subject in primary schools and even in pre-schools in order to foster better understanding of the different cultures, religions and races among students in this country.

Zahid said if taught from the pre-school stage, the subject could nurture real and strong unity among the people.

He said a study of the unity index conducted by the Education Ministry in 2014 found that the interaction index between teachers and students was 6.69, which showed that the ties between the two were strong, but the acceptance level of the differences in race, culture and religion was still low.

"I urge the Education Ministry to start taking a serious look at the curriculum for cross-culture to give it focus to create real unity, not just in the classroom but also outside the school. Cross-culture must be fostered at the primary school level, and even in pre-school," he said.

Zahid said during his student days in university, the level of interaction between people of different races, cultures and religions in institutes of higher learning was low, with each group more inclined and comfortable with their own ethnic group.

However, he said, if the interaction was fostered at an earlier stage, people would get to know and respect others, thus promoting real unity among Malaysians at all levels.