Schools rewarded for academic progress
Education authorities have decided to crown the schools and teachers who have been instrumental in paving the way for change and better academic results.
WHILE the Education Ministry has recognised the efforts of outstanding students in the past, it has decided this year to award schools, instead of individual students, for outstanding results in last year’s Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
“This is to inspire the entire school, including its leaders and educators to work harder as a team to move towards excellence,” said Education Director-general Datuk Seri Abd Ghafar Mahmud.
His speech was read by Education deputy director-general (Education Operation Sector) Sufa’at Tumin.
Sufa’at later presented awards to the representatives of the respective schools and to outstanding teachers.
He added that teachers are the agents for education transformation.
“That’s why teachers must understand and appreciate the aspirations and new policies such as the Upholding Bahasa Malaysia and Strengthening English (MBMMBI), One Student One Sport, School-based Assessment and Vocasional Education Transformation policies,” he said.
“In order for these policies to succeed, teachers must have the initiative, as well as be creative and innovative to explore techniques and approaches for effective teaching.”
This is exactly what the outstanding schools managed to do.
Schools that received the Category One award (schools with a school average grade (GPS) lower than 1.5), had set up various study programmes to ensure that their students performed well in the SPM.
SM Sains Rembau principal Norzila Idris explained that besides the usual extra classes, intensive training and workshops, the school also had in place a Young Tutors Programme.
“Good students are chosen to lead and tutor weaker students at night and on weekends. They can do exercises and learn even when the teachers are not around.
“We have three excellent teachers who set questions and prepared worksheets for the young tutors who will then pass the worksheets on to their friends,” she explained.
With 196 students sitting for the SPM last year, her school managed to achieve a 1.3 GPS.
“Our school is very new and our first batch of students sat for the SPM last year.
“The results in our first SPM sitting was good and that will certainly motivate those in the lower forms,” she said.
Five of the Category One award winners proved that they were top scoring schools and even managed to get the Category Two award. This award is for schools where at least three percent of the SPM candidates score straight A+’s.
They are Sekolah Seri Puteri, Selangor, Kolej Tunku Kurshiah, Negri Sembilan, Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Perak, Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah, Putrajaya and Sekolah Tun Fatimah, Johor.
Besides rewarding existing high achieving schools, the Ministry had decided to recognise schools that made a marked improvement btween 2010 to 2011.
The Category Three award was for schools that had more than 100 candidates sitting for the SPM; were listed among the 200 under-performing schools for SPM 2010 and showed a GPS improvement of at least 10 percent in 2011.
To recognise the effort of teachers who maintain standards and ensure the success of their pupils, a Special Excellence Award was given to SM Sains Sultan Mahmud Terengganu History panel head Sharifah Afidah Syed Hamid.
All of her 119 students sitting for SPM History achieved an A grade — 91A+’s, 25A’s and three A-’s.
“One of my aims is to produce patriotic students because I can see that many of my students are potential leaders,” said Sharifah Afidah.
“History needs to be taken as an important subject and because students now are different from those in the past, the teaching and learning approach needs to be changed in order to create an interest for the subject,” she added.
In addition to the programmes that she had been involved in, she also utilised a strategy called RICE which involved the reduction of ineffective notes, increasing student-centred learning, creating new modules and eliminating insignificant teaching and learning materials.
“This teacher showed that persistence and sacrifice, as well as caring for her students are important elements for seeking excellence. I hope that this award will motivate other teachers,” added Abd Ghafar in his speech.
He also expressed hope that the efforts and programmes undertaken by these awardwinning schools be shared with other schools in the country.
“Consistent support from parents, the media and the community are necessary in order to make our vision for education a success,” he said.