Latest news with #BangsaJohorPilotSchools
The Star
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Call to ease burden on teachers in state
THE plight of teachers and the importance of fostering nationhood among students took centre stage at the Johor state assembly. Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz (Muda-Puteri Wangsa) voiced concern over the growing strain on educators, especially when they were expected to juggle non-teaching tasks. She urged the state government to ensure that teachers were not weighed down by administrative duties, particularly as the Bangsa Johor Pilot Schools (SRBJ) initiative got underway. 'As the child of a teacher, I saw how my mother had to handle tasks such as planning lessons, managing the curriculum, overseeing facilities, handling administrative work and still keeping track of students' attendance. 'Please allow educators the space to focus on teaching Johor's students,' she said at the sitting in Bangunan Sultan Ismail, Kota Iskandar. Amira Aisya also proposed integrating a teaching support system into the SRBJ initiative to enhance classroom instruction. 'This approach is already in place in many countries. 'If Malaysia isn't ready, Johor should take the lead and empower our educators to deliver quality education,' she said. Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi previously described SRBJ as a transformative programme to raise the state's public education system to world-class standards by 2030. It is aimed at addressing the challenges children face in an increasingly digital, borderless world. Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah (BN-Mahkota) proposed including nationhood in the SRBJ syllabus, noting that while the programme emphasised STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and English, it also aimed to develop well-rounded, principled youth. 'While we aim to produce marketable individuals to meet job market demands, nationhood is equally important and should be included in the syllabus so that students understand the principles of the Rukun Negara and the Constitution. 'I suggest that nationhood be introduced as an additional subject in SRBJ to help develop patriotic and united youth who can navigate development and progress,' he said.
The Star
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Bangsa Johor Pilot Schools undergo RM30mil transformation
JOHOR BARU: The Bangsa Johor Pilot Schools (SRBJ) initiative will undergo a rapid transformation worth RM30mil, says Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. He said the initiative is part of the state's plan to develop world-class education and position Johor as a leading state by 2030. 'The Johor government has allocated RM6mil, and RM24mil has been pledged by corporate partners investing in Johor, bringing the total support for SRBJ to RM30mil. "Student success is not the responsibility of schools alone. It must be a whole-of-community effort. If SRBJ succeeds, we can expand this model to many more schools across Johor," he added. He said this during a speech at the SRBJ Parents and Teachers Sharing Session at SMK Tasek Utara on Saturday (May 10). He added that the SRBJ initiative was inspired by the vision of the Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, who was concerned about the challenges faced by children in a digital and borderless world. "The Johor Regent does not want our children to be left behind. His vision is to produce the best children in the country, who can compete on equal footing with their peers globally," he said. The four selected schools are SMK Tasek Utara, SK Tasek Utara, SMK Kota Puteri, and SK Kota Puteri 4. They were chosen from over 1,190 schools in the state to pilot the initiative. 'These schools are equipped with smart classrooms, AI-integrated computer labs, upgraded canteens, teachers' lounges, amphitheatres, outdoor learning hubs, and performance studios. We want every teacher to be comfortable and every student to thrive,' he said. In addition to infrastructure upgrades, Onn Hafiz emphasised the importance of academic excellence, noting that SRBJ students will sit for the PSLE and IGCSE examinations alongside the SPM within the next two years. 'If they fail the PSLE or IGCSE, we will have failed the SRBJ mission,' he warned, urging full collaboration between teachers, parents, and the government. He added that all SRBJ students from Year 4 onwards, as well as their teachers, will receive tablets to enhance digital learning. These are not for games, said Onn Hafiz, but to expose students to cutting-edge technology. The devices and training are sponsored by the Raja Zarith Sofiah Foundation as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative. Onn Hafiz also highlighted Johor's recent economic achievements, stating that foreign direct investments (FDI) hit RM27bil in the first quarter of 2025 alone — surpassing the RM20bil recorded for the whole of January to September in 2024. 'With high-paying job opportunities coming into Johor, we want our children to study, succeed, and serve right here in Johor,' he said.
