Aznan says there are no immediate plans to expand the SRBJ initiative next year.
STUDENTS’ progress under Bangsa Johor Pilot Schools (SRBJ) initiative will be strengthened through a mentor-mentee programme developed in collaboration with two top schools in Johor.
State education and information committee chairman Aznan Tamin said the “knowledge village” (perkampungan ilmu) initiative involving Sekolah Tun Fatimah (STF) and SMK Sultan Ismail (SSI) kicked off in the middle of the year.
He said both schools were selected due to their outstanding academic performance.
STF is a top boarding school while SSI ranked as a leading educational institution.
“That is why the schools were chosen to help boost the academic performance of the pilot schools.
“SSI students will support peers failing certain subjects, while STF students will help others raise their grades from say a C to an A.
“This is a strategic partnership aimed at empowering our students,” he said at an event at SK Sayong Pinang in Kulai, Johor.
The four SRBJ schools are SMK Kota Puteri 2, SMK Tasek Utara, SK Kota Puteri 4 and SK Tasek Utara.
Aznan added that the initiative’s effectiveness for the first cohort of SRBJ students would be evaluated based on this year’s Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results.
He said there were no immediate plans to expand the SRBJ initiative next year, as the state government wanted to observe the progress and assess if the programme benefitted students.
If successful, the modules and syllabus at SRBJ would be rolled out to other schools across Johor, he said.
Additionally, Aznan said works to upgrade infrastructure at the pilot schools was expected to be completed by December.
A sum of over RM30mil had been allocated for the upgrading of SRBJ schools.
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi was reported saying that the initiative involved RM6.22mil in state funding and RM24mil in private sponsorships.
The SRBJ schools, he said, would feature smart classrooms incorporating artificial intelligence technology.
The upgrades would also include the library, teachers’ room, canteen and learning exploration areas to create a more conducive environment for students and teachers. — By MYSARA FAUZI
