COLOMBO : It s with profound sorrow and heartfelt gratitude that I write about the passing of Miss Z K Haniffa, a dedicated and humble teacher, who left us on 20th July 2025 at the age of 87. She was a noble educator who taught at AL-Hidhaya Maha Vidyalaya,Khairiya Girls School,Muslim Ladies College and Asian International School, touching countless lives with her wisdom and kindness.
She will be remembered as a teacher who did far more than teaching.She transformed lives. As the teacher in-charge of our Board of Prefects at AL-Hidhaya Maha Vidyalaya, she was the heart and soul of discipline, leadership, and guidance.. But to truly understand her legacy, one must look not at titles, but at the countless students she helped shape.
I had the rare privilege of serving as the head prefect under her inspiring leadership. She was one of my class teachers and also taught me English. I am one of the fortunate lives she shaped through her wisdom, belief, and unwavering support.
She had a rare gift: the ability to see potential where others saw negativity and uncertainty, to guide with firmness yet kindness, and to believe in every student even when we doubted ourselves. Under her watchful eye, many found their voice, their purpose, and the confidence to rise. We were not merely corrected but were moulded. With every challenge she gave us, she showed us the path to grow stronger and with confidence.
Her presence was a force of calm determination. She spoke with wisdom, carried herself with quiet dignity, and led not just by rules,but by example. Her discipline taught us respect. Her expectations taught us commitment and responsibility. Her support taught us resilience.
She believed that leadership was not for prestige, but a responsibility carried with humility,commitment and responsibility. Many of us who served as prefects and many more who simply followed her teachings owe much of who we are today to the values she instilled in us. She didn’t just shape students; she nurtured individuals who would go on to make meaningful marks on the world.
Though her worldly journey has come to an end, she remains with us in every aspect of our lives, the traditions she upheld, and most of all, the lives she touched. She is a true legend and we carry forward her legacy not with tears alone, but with pride, purpose, and a promise to be the kind of people she believed we could be.
Though she maintained strict discipline with the students, she was deeply loved by all because of her nurturing, motherly affection
Ms Z K Haniffa will be cherished by her students for all time.
With heartfelt appreciation and eternal remembrance.
A.F.Feroze Noon
Chartered Accountant
A past pupil of AL-Hidhaya Maha Vidyalaya
July 23, 2025
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