Outstanding headmasters to improve ‘weak’ schools

KUALA LUMPUR: Forty-one high performance school heads will be placed at underperforming schools nationwide, the first batch under a project by the Education Ministry to improve the schools’ performance.

The school heads will be placed at underperforming schools for a period of three years.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said the placement was a mandate given by the ministry to the school heads to bring positive changes to these schools.

“All of you (the school heads) are the heroes that will help to propel these underperforming schools in our effort to produce more heroes for the country,” he said during the presentation of appointment letters for the “Pelonjakan Kepimpinan Sekolah (ProPeks) Kohort 2018” programme to the school heads yesterday.

He said the placement of topperforming school heads at underperforming schools was a form of recognition for them.

“It is a trust given by the ministry, with hopes that you could help bring change at the underperforming schools.

“I believe that all of you are the best to do this challenging task.”

He said the success of an organisation depended not only on the quality and efficiency of its members, but more importantly the quality of its leadership.

“In the context of our education system, strategic leadership at the ministerial level must be supported by dynamic leadership at the State Education Department and District Education Office,” he said.

Under the programme, the school heads will be assisted by lecturers from Aminuddin Baki Institute.

The pilot project, which involved nine high performance school heads, began last year.

The programme upholds the Five System Aspirations under Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025.