10,675 Teachers Receive RM10 Million Reward For Excellence Performance

BANGI, June 27 - A total of 10,675 teachers and support staff of 124 secondary schools nationwide today received the reward totalling RM10 million for their outstanding academic and co-curriculum performance in 2011.

The reward, given under the national key result areas (NKRA) for education, was presented by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the New Deal for Principals Award 2011 presentation ceremony here Wednesday.

In his speech, Muhyyiddin also expressed happiness at the performance of the 124 schools which exceeded the target of four to five per cent from the total of 2,248 schools to receive the award, with their principals passed all screenings and had no case of disciplinary issues.

"What make us more proud is that the government effort to close the gap and put a balance for quality educational opportunities between urban and rural areas seems to have borne fruits.

"It was proven when 54 per cent or 67 out of the 124 schools which received the reward today are rural schools," said Muhyiddin, who is also Minister of Education.

Muhyiddin said the reward totalling RM15.6 million had also been given to 403 out of 7,648 primary schools across the country for same purpose last March.

The deputy prime minister also said that he was proud with the performance of religious schools in the country when 18 government-aided secondary religious schools were selected to receive the reward compared to only four schools in 2010.

"The increase, which is more that twofold, really makes us proud, while 19 schools in the prime boost category have leapt by over 500 places up the rankings compared to the initial target of 300 places," he said.

He said two schools in particular had recorded an amazing performance by leaping up over 1,000 places in the rankings.

The two schools are Sekolah Menengah Agama Tarbiah Islamiah in Penang, which leapt by 1,555 places in the rankings, and Sekolah Menengah Agama Makarimul Akhlak in Kedah, which leapt by 1,202 places.

"What's more remarkable is the improvement shown by Sekolah Menengah Seri Kembangan, Selangor, which has made a drastic leap of 1,399 in the rankings for large enrollment school," he said.

In a bid to continue the excellence performance, Muhyiddin also called on all principals and headmasters to be more competent and innovative in planning, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating teaching and learning activities.

He said as leaders of schools and agents of change, they need to keep up with the current development and constantly find ways and ideas to improve themselves, their leadership and management.

"The success of the principals in planning, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating teaching and learning activities will enable the school's vision and mission to be translated in accordance with vision and mission of the Education Ministry," he said.

Muhyiddin said the excellent performance showed by principals and headmasters would definitely show in the academic and co-curriculum performance of the students.

"The ministry will continue to ensure that the principals who have not reached the target will be given the opportunity to undergo improvement courses based on their needs and they will also be guided from time to time," he said.

Muhyiddin also called on all school principals and headmasters to enhance their knowledge and expertise in education, especially in the self school rating system as practised in several developed countries to improve school performance.

In fact, he said the government was serious in making changes and improvements in the national education system to maintain its relevance and to get better results.

"The government's high investment on educational transformation proved that it is looking seriously at the latest development of the education industry to produce human capital with critical mindset, creative, innovative, competitive, good values and noble personality," he added.

- BERNAMA