SK Sampadi headmaster Bahrin, seen here with his head prefect Wafik, says trust school is geared towards 21st century learning where teachers act as facilitators and students implement learning strategies.
THE classroom is sometimes seen as a place of rote learning, where the teacher stands and talks while students sit at their desks and listen.
Yayasan Amir’s Trust School programme in collaboration with Petronas and other corporate sponsors aims to transform the teaching and learning environment for teachers and students alike.
At SK Sampadi, a rural primary school in Sarawak’s Lundu district near Kuching, headmaster Bahrin Tahir said the Trust School programme had impacted teachers and students positively since it was introduced in 2015.
“I entered this school in the second year of the programme. I can now see its benefits to teachers and students.
“The Trust School is geared towards 21st-century learning. Teachers don’t talk as much in class but act as facilitators and the students implement learning strategies.
“Before this, it was ‘chalk and talk’, but now the teacher gives the topic and a few questions and the students will engage in discussion,” he said.
SK Sampadi head prefect Mohamad Wafik Mohamad Taufik said learning was more enjoyable under the programme.
“Previously we studied and sat individually in class. Now we sit in groups, so we communicate more with each other and do all kinds of activities. We even do group work together before the teacher comes into class,” the Year Six student said.
SMK Lundu student Bruchel likes the interactive aspects of learning introduced by the trust school programme, which senior assistant Zuraida said also provided teachers support in conducting lessons. —Photos by ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
Wafik also said the students were given opportunities to assess each other’s work and help their friends in their studies.
“It’s fun to learn this way. I get to spend time with my friends in class. I feel privileged to be in a Trust School; it has helped me to become more confident and develop leadership skills,” he added.
Indeed, self-confidence came up repeatedly in the assessment of the programme’s benefits for students.
“We see the students becoming more confident. They can interact and collaborate with each other and with their teachers,” Bahrin said.
Lim Mei Yong, who teaches Mathematics at SK Siar Campuran, said the students were noticeably less shy and more confident after the programme started, also in 2015.
This came about because students were encouraged to speak up in class, ask questions and interact with one another as well as with the teacher.
“Our students used to be passive and wait for the teacher to instruct them. Now they enjoy doing activities in class and they are empowered to ask questions,” Lim said.
As a result, she said, the students now have the confidence to greet visitors, give speeches and act as emcees at school events.
SK Sampadi and SK Siar Campuran are among five Trust Schools sponsored by Petronas in Sarawak, all in the Lundu district.
Qazi Haqeemy Safarizan, a Year Six student at SK Siar Campuran, said learning is now interactive.
“We learn and play at the same time. For example, we play a Maths game called Tarsia which is like a puzzle. We have to solve problems to complete the puzzle,” said the 11-year-old.
Form Two student Bruchel Ryud Gilbert at SMK Lundu likes the group and interactive aspects of learning introduced by the programme.
“In class, we sit in groups of four or five and discuss subjects. No one is left behind, everyone is involved in the discussion and we learn to work as a team.
“We have to plan learning strategies and share ideas in class. We also use thinking tools such as mapping to germinate ideas.
“I enjoy learning like this. I think my academic performance has improved as the learning environment is better,” she said.
Bruchel, 14, said there were also sessions in class for students to ask questions and share information.
She said the students no longer depended on the teacher to spoon-feed information; they now explore various subjects and ideas on their own.
“This helps me to improve my leadership skills because the teacher trusts us to handle the work ourselves,” she said.
SMK Lundu senior assistant Zuraida Tuah said the Trust School programme provided support in many aspects, especially in teaching and learning.
She said the teachers received training to improve their skills in teaching, classroom management, lesson planning and school administration, as well as resources for lessons and activities.
“We are fortunate to be chosen as a Trust School. Our students are moving forward and have better opportunities to fulfil their potential.
“They are making quicker progress compared to before we became a Trust School,” she said.
