ISKANDAR PUTERI: Four schools were selected under Johor's premier Bangsa Johor elite school initiative, which will kick-off next year.
The Bangsa Elite schools' project, aimed at elevating educational standards and fostering holistic student development, was announced during the Johor 2025 Budget, tabled by Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi on Nov 21.
The Bangsa Johor School initiative is backed by an RM6.2 million allocation in the Johor 2025 Budget.
The initiative aligns with Regent of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim's aspirations to establish Johor as a leader in education.
The selected schools — two secondary and two primary schools — will involve 2,352 students.
Some 939 students from SMK Seri Kota Puteri 2 and SK Seri Kota Puteri in Pasir Gudang, and 1,413 students from SMK Tasek Utara and SK Tasek Utara in Johor Baru, were selected for the programme.
State Education and Information Committee chairman Aznan Tamin said the schools were chosen based on rigorous criteria.
These include operating as single-session institutions, strong leadership, and moderate academic performance to maximise growth potential.
The initiative will focus on strengthening English proficiency while maintaining the prominence of Bahasa Melayu, advancing the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, and ensure consistent teacher quality through specialised training.
He said collaborations with institutions, such as Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi MARA, as well as industry players like the James Dyson Foundation, are aimed to integrate cutting-edge methodologies.
"Teachers will undergo professional development in pedagogy, STEM instruction, and innovative strategies such as the Singaporean 'lesson study' model.
"The selected schools also have moderate academic performance, allowing us to elevate their standards. For continuity, the primary schools will act as feeders to their respective secondary schools, ensuring smooth progression for students," he said at Johor State Legislative Assembly at Bangunan Sultan Ismail here today.
Aznan (BN-Tanjung Surat), in response to a query from N. Saraswati (MIC-Kemelah) on the initiative's role in ensuring consistent educational quality, said the programme will initially run for three years, with the potential for expansion to other schools if proven successful.
The Bangsa Johor School syllabus will complement the existing national education framework outlined by the Education Ministry.
The existing curriculum will remain intact with value programmes to utilise advanced educational tools like the Strategies for English Learning and Reading (STELLAR).
He said preparation were underway including teachers' training, community engagement and parents' outreach efforts.
Forty English teachers underwent skill enhancement workshops at Singapore's National Institute of Education.