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The Star

Rising interest in pilot school scheme

Aznan chatting with pupils at SK Kota Puteri 4. INTEREST in Johor's pilot school programmes is growing, with more parents – including those from outside the state – showing keen interest. Johor education and information committee chairman Aznan Tamin said the programmes, namely those involving cross-­border teacher training with Singa­pore, were starting to gain traction. 'To date, 30 teachers have been sent to Singapore under the state's pilot programme focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. 'More than 30 English teachers will also undergo training there as part of our continuous efforts to enhance the quality of education,' he added. He said the state was hopeful of seeing improved student performance and school achieve­ments within one to two years, especially with infrastructure upgrades scheduled to begin this month. 'We are not only upgrading physical facilities, but also inves­t­ing in the capacity building of teachers, which will directly benefit the students.' Aznan said the teacher training programme, conducted in collaboration with Singapore's National Institute of Education (NIE), would continue monthly, with additional support from the state government. A total of 212 primary and secondary school teachers have been sent for professional development at NIE in phases since last November. These teachers are being prepared for the opening of Johor's pilot Bangsa Johor school. 'We want all 212 teachers to obtain certification for the Com­mon European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). 'They will play a crucial role at the Bangsa Johor pilot school, where we are placing greater emphasis on STEM subjects,' said Aznan. He added that professional training sessions at NIE covered over 10 modules, focusing on strengthening pedagogical skills, introducing innovative STEM applications and fostering international collaboration in education. 'The training does not just equip teachers with knowledge, but also provides fresh perspectives that they can bring back to their classrooms,' he said. Two primary and two secondary schools have been selected for the pilot programme – SMK Kota Puteri 2 with 2,352 students and SK Kota Puteri 4 with 532 students in Pasir Gudang; and SMK Tasek Utara with 611 students and SK Tasek Utara with 802 students in Johor Baru. Aznan said students at these schools would be required to complete at least 112 hours in STEM subjects each year, compared to a minimum of 64 hours in other schools. At the school level, STEM education has been introduced, with a focus on pupils in Years Four, Five and Six for primary schools, and Forms One, Two and Three for secondary schools. 'Feedback from parents has been positive and we are seeing interest from families outside Johor wanting to enrol their children in the pilot schools,' he said. Separately, Aznan said the state government would also be enhancing school infrastructure and public amenities to ensure greater comfort for students, teachers and visitors. 'We are confident that with these improvements, Johor will continue to be a leader in education innovation and excellence.'