THEIR improvement in English proficiency was the transformation siblings Nur Azira and Muhammad Haiqal Abdul Aziz recently experienced, thanks to a 10-week pilot initiative organised by the Education Ministry’s English Language Teaching Centre in partnership with the British Council.
The teenagers, among 20 participants in the “Secondary Plus: Project-Based Learning for B40 Students” initiative, credited their progress to the dynamic, project-based learning approach.
“I have improved from Level Six to Level Nine,” said Nur Azira, adding that she looks forward to joining similar courses in the future.
Her brother, Muhammad Haiqal, shared that he can now speak confidently in front of large crowds.
The students, from a selected school in Chow Kit, took part in two five-week modules aimed at improving their speaking and reading skills.
The modules, “Let’s Enjoy Life” and “School Can Be Cool!”, were developed based on an International Baccalaureate topic of investigation, using English to achieve real world outcomes through project-based learning. Their goal was to improve students’ comprehension, including tense usage, and enhance their collaborative skills.
British Council Malaysia director Jazreel Goh expressed admiration for the initiative’s transformative impact on students.
“Andrew Quick, their teacher, connected with the students exceptionally well during the weekly two-hour sessions.
“It’s heartening to see how much more confidently they speak and carry themselves now compared to when they first began,” she said.
Education Ministry Teacher Professionalism Division director Rohayati Abd Hamed said the programme, held from July to September, helped nurture the students’ confidence and creativity.
“Every child deserves access to quality education, regardless of background. By investing in our B40 students, we are investing in the future of Malaysia, empowering young Malaysians to rise above their circumstances and contribute meaningfully to our society and economy,” she said.
