Tales of Ibu ...... Teenager to Youth

The knowledge that she gained had not gone down the drain. In 1916, she moved to Kampung Pasuh Jaya, Waras, the border of Pahang and Negeri Sembilan, where she started her teaching journey. She set up her own school and taught the children of the villagers to read and write. It was also the first preschool which was being run by the Malays. She only managed to teach there for a short while as in 1921, she followed her father and shifted to Muar as his service was needed by the Commissioner of Johor in Muar District – Datuk Abdullah Jaafar. Six months later, through her perseverance and dedication as an educator, Ibu Zain was appointed as a probationary teacher in Bandar Maharani Girl School. Six months later, she was appointed as the Principal of that school, and further, she became the visiting teacher of Girl Schools in the district of Muar and Batu Pahat in 1925. As the supervisor of Girl Schools in the state of Johor, Ibu Zain established more girl schools in the districts of Kluang, Segamat, Mersing, Kota Tinggi and Pontian. She also set up evening religion schools for Muslims in Johor and in 1929, she pioneered the Federation of Johor Malay Women Teachers. (Persekutuan Guru-guru Perempuan Melayu Johor)

In 1930, she realized the importance of educating women, Ibu Zain produced Majalah Bulan Melayu, a magazine which became the official ‘voice’ for Ibu Zain to inspire and give ideas to women in terms of education and morale. The magazine was also a medium as an opposition to Hikayat Hanum or Asyik Mashok, authored by Syed Sheikh Al Hadi which was regarded as obscene and immoral. A long debate was held which concluded in Syed Sheikh Al Hadi apologized to Ibu Zain.

In 1934, after she fulfilled her Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), she married Haji Amin Taib, a former Religion Teacher. They were bestowed three children; two daughters Khalida Adiba and Khalida Fadzillah and a son, Sulaiman Shakib.