How a marginalised school’s fortune can be turned around
Event Overview:
- Prize Category: Overcoming Adversity
- Format: Immersive performance
- Country: Malaysia
- Languages: Streamed live in English with automated captions in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Filipino, Malay, Serbian and Hindi.
- Learn more about the Top Ten Shortlisted Schools in the Overcoming Adversity category on the World’s Best School Prizes website.
Watch on-demand
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About the school
SMK Kampong Jawa, a secondary school in Klang, Malaysia, was once in the bottom two out of the thirty-eight schools in the Klang district for its academic results, but has since seen its scores improve by 20% and it was given an award for the highest online attendance during the pandemic.
In 2017, the body of a murdered woman was discovered outside SMK Kampong Jawa, a sign of how bad things had become for the school. With a student body where 75% of its pupils come from families with lower household incomes, SMK Kampong Jawa was once associated with urban poverty, poor attendance and had lost the trust of the local community. In the past, its classrooms were marked by vandalism, theft was commonplace and vulnerable students were often groomed into local gangs. When the school requested funding from sponsors to purchase better equipment in 2017, it was denied. A year later, the school’s academic results were low – just 59% of its students obtained their leaving school qualifications.
But in 632 days SMK Kampong Jawa managed to turn hardship into success. The catalyst for that change came with the appointment of a new principal in August 2020 who helped redirect the school policies to align with his vision for change. Under his helm, SMK Kampong Jawa embarked on an intensive data-driven approach to attendance and made over 500 phone calls to parents to learn more about students and their home environments. For those that still didn’t attend class, school counsellors would make home visits themselves.
With its intensive research underway, SMK Kampong Jawa designed online classes that experimented with breakout rooms and collaborative learning structures that offered close peer-to-peer support and ensured small group sessions were productive and engaging. Online attendance and academic results started to improve. The school also focused on the challenges some of its students were facing and began networking with local charities to help those who were struggling financially. In one case, SMK Kampong Jawa was able to help a student’s family move to a better home. The school looks to continue to provide face-to-face and virtual lessons in its classrooms as the pandemic continues.
Join us for an interesting session showcasing how focusing on a student’s home life can change their future.
Speakers
Moderator: Ann Jones
Ann Jones has over 25 years of teaching experience in various roles and school systems in Malaysia. Having found her passion for teaching when working with Special Needs, she went on to become a qualified teacher, majoring in English language and worked in both rural and urban public schools. Ann is also an experienced principal of an international school in Johor Bahru which she helped to set up in 1997. She is currently utilizing her skills and experience to turn theory into practice to empower teachers and transform schools in the Trust School Programme under LeapEd Services, since 2013.
Speaker 1: Iam Nurlin Binti Ibrahim
Born on the 9th of March 1973, Penang, Malaysia. Former high school was St George”s Girls School, Penang. Had always inspired to become a teacher and graduated from University Kebangsaan Malaysia with Bachelor of Education Honours TESL in 1997. Had teaching experiences of 25 years; teaching English, Arts and Physical Education. Joined the Klang District Teachers Debate team and was the best speaker for the preliminary round. Possess the passion for sharing best practices and had guided trainee teachers in embracing reflective teaching, as the key to enganging lessons. Led the World’s Best School Prize in Overcoming Adversity via the project PROUD AND LOUD with SMK KAMPONG JAWA (TRUST SCHOOL), Klang, Selangor.
Speaker 2: Datin Aisah Binti Jaman
Datin Aisah Binti Jaman was born on May 5, 1964 in Sabah. Obtained a Degree level Education at the National University of Malaysia in 1988 and subsequently obtained a Diploma of Education from the International Islamic University of Malaysia in 1989. Continued studies at the master’s level in 1998 in the field of Master of Management at the International Islamic University of Malaysia and then attended the Post Graduate Certificate in School Management course & Leadership King’s College London in 2008. Started education service on 22 May 1989 at SMK Majakir Papar, Sabah and was later promoted to Senior Assistant at the same school in 1994 before serving in the Education Office of the South West Coast Division, Sabah Education Technology Division and Academic Management Sector, Sabah Education Department until 1998. Was appointed as Principal starting in 2003 with his first school SMK Takis Papar, Sabah (2003), SMK Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam (2005), SMK TTDI Jaya, Shah Alam (2010 ), SMK Seafield, Subang Jaya (2014) and SMK Kampong Jawa, Klang starting March 2022. Has very extensive experience in the field of education and leading the leadership of various activities at the national and international level.
Speaker 3: Puteri Izzatul Insyirah
My name is Puteri Izzatul Insyirah. I was born on 13th June, on the year that brings me officially 17 this year, 2005. I’m the eldest daughter of 4 siblings that consists of all girl. 3 of us have been in secondary school while the last one still in primary school. My hobby is studying, watching movies/drama series and read a novel. My strength is I think I’m the person that very easygoing, leadership, teamwork, versatility, communication skills, good in social and also creative because i’m the person who very detail-oriented that made them put a higher trust on me to do something task because they know I don’t like any flaws or defect when do something. Next, what I like is western food, hiking to explore the beauty of nature, doing makeup/hijab tutorial and I love to sing a song too. And what I didn’t like is when people get mad on me, being forced and be compared with others. I aiming to become a doctor because I want to help all the needy by being a good doctor. I’m good at giving advises and motivation words to people. I think doctor is the suits ones for me to show my care, concerns and love to them without mind of religion and race. To achieve that, i need to work hard in my study and get a good results. And to make sure that, I have to stay motivated by always believe my future is what I’m doing right now. If I don’t make the time to work on creating the life that i want, i eventually going to be forced to spend a lot of time dealing with a life I don’t want.