Over 2,000 headmasters attend education convention
Published on: Tue, Jul 22, 2025
By: Marutin Ansiung Text Size: Dr Mohd Azam in a group photo with some of the leaders of the National PGBM. Kota Kinabalu: Over 2,000 school leaders comprising headmasters from across the nation attended the 29th Education Convention and 3rd Persatuan Guru Besar Malaysia (PGBM) Delegates Conference held at the Sabah International Convention Centre, here. The three-day convention aimed to facilitate knowledge sharing from the Ministry of Education sector to strengthen leadership in primary schools for implementing new education development policies and plans. Education Director-General Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad, in his opening address, pointed out the role of headmasters as leaders and drivers who must understand policies and implement them with full trust and integrity as proactive civil servants bringing school reforms to ensure children's rights to quality education are protected. 'When headmasters are at their respective schools, they come to work, not just go to work. They should bring waves of quality education to students, working with teacher organisations to focus especially on resolving literacy and numeracy issues,' he said. He noted that the Ministry of Education is preparing the Education Development Plan 2026-2035, which will be implemented at all levels including schools, with only strategic plans at ministry and department levels, while District Education Offices will prepare tactical plans and schools will handle operational plan implementation to be translated in classrooms. National PGBM President Marzilaini Muhamad said headmasters throughout Malaysia continuously strive to ensure excellent and effective leadership quality among school leaders through various approaches, smart sharing and jointly achieving government policies, particularly the new Education Development Plan. Meanwhile, Sabah PGBM President Datuk Nordin Mohd Taip said the convention, hosted by Sabah for the first time is a historic milestone as the largest gathering of school leaders ever held, achieving goals in advancing education through sharing ideas, experiences and solutions to various issues related to teacher welfare and school leadership. Key issues raised included the genuine grade promotion for headmasters from DG44 to DG48 and proposals to increase headmaster responsibility allowances from RM200 to RM500 and senior assistant allowances from RM60 to RM200, which were submitted to the government through the ministry. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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