Olympiad champs: Woon (far right) with Pearl, Huan Xuan and Yong Xuan (left to right).
Trio Pearl Liang Yee Herr, Liu Huan Xuan and Kee Yong Xuan made their schools proud by topping the primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary categories of the recent Faber-Castell Score A programme’s “Creative Learning Student Olympiad Grand Finale 2024”.
Pearl from SJKC Serdang Baru 1, Seri Kembangan, was the Category A (10 to 12) winner, while Huan Xuan from SMK Chung Hua (CF), Miri, and Yong Xuan from Paragon International School, Johor, emerged champions of Category B (13 to 15 years old) and Category C (16 to 17), respectively in the competition held in Petaling Jaya on Nov 14.
The competition themed “Sustainable Evolution: Advancing ESG in Industries,” focused on how environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles drive innovation in key sectors such as the automotive industry, manufacturing, healthcare and fintech.
Students participated in four different missions designed to challenge their ability to think critically about sustainability in these transforming industries.
Huan Xuan, who has participated in the Score A programme for the past two years, shared the impact it’s had on her studies.
“The creative techniques we learnt have made studying more enjoyable and helped me improve my grades, especially in subjects I used to find challenging.
“My favourite method, river-flow note taking, has helped me break down complex topics in a way that makes sense.
“These tools have boosted my confidence, making me more engaged and motivated. Winning the Student Olympiad has shown me what I’m capable of, and now I help my classmates use these techniques to succeed,” she said.
Meanwhile, SMK Methodist physics teacher Lo Ming Jun, who has incorporated Score A methods into her classroom over the past three years, said the programme has transformed how her students approach learning.
“I’ve seen students who struggled to focus now enthusiastically participate. Each student has a unique learning style, so it’s crucial for teachers to adapt their methods to make learning more engaging and enjoyable.
“This programme has reached students who traditional methods couldn’t engage, and I’ve seen their grades and motivation improve significantly,” she said, adding that watching students take pride in their work and feel successful in subjects they once found daunting has been incredibly rewarding.
Score A marked a milestone this year as it wrapped up its third successful cycle, achieving a record 50% increase in participation. The programme engaged 6,714 teachers from 3,812 schools, generating 20,854 entries from schools nationwide.Launched in 2022, Score A aims to make education accessible and engaging through creative teaching methods. Supported by the Education Ministry, the initiative focuses on empowering teachers and students with tools tailored to different learning needs.
By fostering inclusive education, Score A helps teachers and students bridge learning gaps, creating a platform that empowers students of all learning styles.
The programme introduced 11 creative learning techniques such as mind maps, emojis, and river-flow notes, making classroom learning more vibrant.
Through dedicated workshops, teachers learn to integrate these tools into lessons, bridging learning gaps and supporting students of diverse learning styles. Each workshop was recorded and made accessible on the Faber-Castell website, allowing teachers and students across Malaysia to benefit from the content.
To measure the Score A programme’s effectiveness and to create an open channel for teachers to share feedback, collaborate, and build on these creative techniques throughout the year, Faber-Castell launched the Educator’s Elite League in May.
Faber-Castell Malaysia managing director Andrew Woon said the aim is to continuously refine Score A, making it an evolving resource that supports educators and students well beyond the competition itself.
The League, currently with 322 teachers registered, provides a platform for educators to share best practices, innovative teaching strategies, and tools to coach and inspire their students.
To assess the programme’s impact on academic success, the League encourages teachers to submit exam results, allowing insights into how the techniques enhance academic performance.
