LETTERS: I was amazed when I saw two Malaysian schools were among the top 10 finalists to be the World's Best for Innovation and Overcoming Adversity respectively.
Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kempadang in Kuantan and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Kampung Jawa in Klang have made us very proud.
This proves that our public schools, which some believe to be backwaters, are capable of being among the world's best.
SK Kempadang created Smartzoom, an automated system to track pupils' progress when face-to-face teaching was halted by the pandemic.
This helped staff tailor lessons to their class, with supporting teachers and panel heads given training material from YouTube videos and workshops that helped with the transition.
SMK Kampung Jawa, overcame adversity after engaging parents to learn more about the students and their home environment to improve the teaching approach.
Known for vandalism, academically, it was in the bottom two out of 38 schools in Klang, but has improved a lot.
The new principal redirected the school policies to his vision for change, through the implementation of the Trust School Programme.
He was so successful that SMK Kampung Jawa now networks with local charities to help students who are struggling financially.
The initiatives at the two schools do not cost much, and has put Malaysia among the best in the world.
All it needs are diligent, hardworking and conscientious principals and teachers working as a team with a bit of creativity.
Hopefully, all civil servants can have these qualities as well.
It is, therefore, regrettable that the Education Ministry is not seen to be celebrating these achievements.
SALEH MOHAMMED
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times
