SPN 21 dares teachers to think outside the box

September 2, 2008
Tuesday

By Malek Hashim

Hjh Aishah binti Hj Muhd Husain, Director of Schools, told teachers that they must be ready to think outside the box.

Female teachers attending the event. - PHOTOS: JASON LEONG

In providing opportunities to all stakeholders of the Ministry of Education in exchanging their views towards improving the education quality and implementation of the 21st Century National Education System (SPN 21), the second dialogue session took place between the Minister of Education and school leaders at the Rizqun International Hotel.

In her opening remark, Dayang Hajah Aishah binti Haji Muhammad Husain, the chairperson of the event and the Director of Schools at the Ministry of Education, said that the dialogue session focused on the feedbacks from 'Core Group' SPN 21 with inputs from the Primary Education Section, Secondary Education Section and Technical Education as well as sharing information about Singapore's observation and experience on intervention programmes and as a continuity of the last dialogue session held last April.

The theme of the dialogue 'Strengthening Leadership Towards the Excellence of SPN 21', Dayang Hajah Aishah stressed that the ability, competency and effectiveness of school leaders in leading their schools will be important during the implementation of the system, as it would significantly alter the whole planning, development, and performance at all levels as well as the educational level.

The school leaders (principals and headmasters) and education leaders (deputy academic principals, senior academic teachers, heads of subject departments and subjects teachers) also need to understand their tasks, strengthen their commitment and work as a team in implementing their tasks and responsibilities in contributing towards the effectiveness of SPN 21.

Dayang Hajah Aishah strongly believed that school leaders are the leading agents responsible for bringing about success and continuous excellence, equipped with leadership skills and able to look forward and "ready to think outside the box" or "dare to think differently" that every school leader could shape their school with their own character and uniqueness.

The Department of Schools, she added, is aware of the many issues that still require attention such as efforts of strengthening the leadership towards the desired excellence of SPN 21 and that the department needs the continuous cooperation from all parties involved with the system.

Also present during the dialogue was Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman, the Deputy Minister of Education. The dialogue involved government schools' principals, headmasters and heads of core subjects (Mathematics, Science and English) departments.