High Performing Schools

Selected slides for Portal

CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY

Any use of this material without specific permission is strictly prohibited
Rationale why High Performing Schools is chosen as a Sub-NKRA

Elevating the quality of the best schools

Raising the quality of the best performing education institutions
through increasing the level of autonomies, allowing them to
innovate in how the school is run (e.g., curriculum, staffing)

Producing excellent students

Creating a breeding ground for international calibre students, who
move on to the best institutions of higher learning, and graduate
into ‘towering personalities’ in all fields of work

Raising the bar for other schools in the system

Painting a vision whereby other schools can aspire to be like
these world-class Malaysian schools, and providing them the
right platform to make this journey through coaching and
networking between these schools

CONFIDENTIAL 2
We have conducted focus groups with relevant stakeholders, who are
supportive of the HPS concept
Principals/ ….we’re excited on the prospects or receiving full autonomy, with continuous
Headmaster professional development….’
….we believe these mechanism will enhance our career progression opportunities
and ensure accountability…..’

‘….this (autonomy) has been something that we have been pushing for many
Unions years, good to hear that the Government is wishing the same now..”
‘….teacher contribution must be recognized and rewarded accordingly… in addition
to their welfare….’

Subject matter ‘….Malaysia’s education system, even though has produced good human capital
experts thus far, could do a lot more to increase student attainment and relevant skills in
preparation for a dynamic and changing world….”
‘….school autonomy is the way to go……as evidenced by top performing schools
around the world…..’

‘….we hope this time the Government is serious in doing good to the education
Public system (in view of how other countries are adapting education to the needs of the
economy and future challenges), and recognize that much could be done to improve
curriculum and teacher quality…..”
‘…this should not be another political experiment…..education must transcend
beyond politics…our children are the most precious and important capital which
cannot be tempered with……..

CONFIDENTIAL 3
HPS designation is awarded to Malaysia’s best schools, and Trust schools
aim to close the achievement gap
HPS is defined as schools with ethos, character and a unique identity which enable the schools
to excel in all aspects of education. These schools have strong and excellent work cultures
and dynamic national human capital for holistic and continuous development in addition to
being able to compete in the international arena, hence becoming the school of choice.

▪ Current cluster
Trust Schools (TS) schools
▪ Closing the
achievement gap
through public-
private
partnerships High-performing
schools (HPS)
▪ Aim for HPS
▪ “Raising the bar to
world class levels”
Trust Schools = 80%
▪ SKPM 90% +
▪ Migrating towards
HPS status through = 70% ▪ End state aspiration
significant “deltas” for all schools
in improvement = 60% ▪ Stretch target of
150 HPS by 2012
= 50%

SKPM = <50%
CONFIDENTIAL 4
HPS concept will be consistent with other types of schools in the
education system
HPS Cluster Trust
▪ Identify and cultivate ▪ Identify and cultivate ▪ Encourage greater
Rationale Malaysia’s cadre of centres of excellence with private sector
internationally competitive a particular niche area involvement in
schools transforming student
outcomes in public
schools
▪ Performance outcomes: ▪ Centres of excellence: ▪ Operations and
Defining
Internationally lead clusters in the accountability: privately
feature
comparable levels of development of their managed to accelerate
achievement specializations improvements
▪ Absolute, holistic ▪ Absolute achievement ▪ Schools at all
Selection
achieve-ments (e.g. (e.g. SKPM: 80%) performance levels
criteria
SKPM: 90%, and specifc ▪ Support for
HPS annex) transformation from
school community
▪ Extended autonomies ▪ Extended autonomies ▪ Extended autonomies to
Benefits given to school leaders given to school leaders private partner and
▪ Additional funds and ▪ Additional funds from school leaders
performance incentives government ▪ Private sector expertise
from government and resources

Creating schools of Closing the gap through

Raising the bar to world-
excellence in specialised public-private
class levels
fields partnerships
CONFIDENTIAL 5
High Performing Schools to raise the bar, Trust Schools to close the gap

High Performing Schools (HPS) Trust Schools (TS)

Raising the bar to world-class levels
HPS are defined as schools with ethos,
character and a unique identity which enable
the schools to excel in all aspects of education
These schools have strong and excellent work
cultures and dynamic national human capital
for holistic and continuous development in
addition to being able to compete in the
international arena, hence becoming the school
of choice.
They will receive a tailored package of benefits
such as greater freedoms to enable them to
excel further
Closing the gap through public
private partnerships
Trust Schools are public schools that are
managed jointly by private sector partners and
MOE school leaders under the umbrella of the
Ministry
The Ministry gives Trust School leaders, teachers
and their private operating partners greater
freedoms, and in return requires accountability
in the form of improved student outcomes
Trust Schools will encompass schools at all
levels of academic and non-academic
performance, with the goal of increasing access
to quality education for all

CONFIDENTIAL 6
HPS are Malaysia’s best schools, capable of competing at international
levels, that are designated upon meeting stringent requirements

Excellent ▪ Minimum average score of 80% based on

academic – GPS score (70% of weight)
achievement – Verified SKPM score (30% of weight)

Towering
▪ Track record of developing influential and successful
individuals (e.g., ministers, sportsmen, activists)
Personalities
▪ For newer schools, clear aspiration to nurture leaders

National and ▪ Participation and achievements in national and

international international competitions
awards

Linkages with ▪ Linkages with universities for programs like credit

institutions of transfer, joint action research, sharing of facilities and
higher learning amenities

▪ Strong networks with other local and international

Strong network schools (e.g. staff, student exchange programmes),
community, public and private organizations

Nationally and ▪ School is used as a national benchmark and has been

Internationally benchmarked against international standards (e.g.,
benchmarked PISA, TIMSS)

CONFIDENTIAL 7
HPS status can be obtained in three steps

Assessment and
Qualification Application
award of HPS status
▪ Schools are ranked annually ▪ Schools submit application ▪ Assessment of the
based on academic detailing achievements in applications
performance additional HPS criteria
▪ Award of HPS status
▪ Schools with score >80% are 1. Towering personalities
invited to apply for HPS 2. National and
status international awards
School Grade Point
Average (GPS) 3. Linkages with institutions
of higher learning
70% weight
4. Strong network
5. Nationally and inter-
SKPM School nationally benchmarked
assessment
▪ For primary schools, excellent
30% weight achievements in 3 of the 5
HPS annex criteria required
▪ For secondary schools,
Composite
excellent achievements in 4
Score (Index)
of the 5 HPS annex criteria
required Annual review

CONFIDENTIAL 8
HPS schools will receive a package of benefits to enable them
to fly even higher
Autonomy
Increased autonomy in decision-making in domains of:
▪ Curriculum and instruction
▪ Finance and budgeting
▪ Personnel Management
▪ Student policies

Financial allocations and incentives

▪ Dedicated allocation for schools
▪ Incentives for school leaders, teachers and non-
academic staff

Training and capability building

▪ More professional development time
▪ Greater range of options tailored to individual needs

CONFIDENTIAL 9
HPS schools will obtain the following privileges and rewards

Description Examples

▪ Increased autonomy in ▪ Teach any syllabus, flexi-time table

decision-making, school and school based assessment
Autonomy operations, and ▪ Use multiple modes of
selecting teachers instruction-IT based
▪ Financial management

▪ Incentives / allocation for ▪ RM 700,000 per school

Financial schools, school leaders, ▪ RM 1,000 per person
allocations/ teachers, and non- for Secondary schools
incentives academic staff ▪ RM 700 per person for 
Primary schools

▪ Allow greater range of ▪ Sabbatical for Head teachers as

Training and options for human appropriate
capability capital development ▪ Tailored programme for
building professional enhancement
according to needs analysis

▪ Allow high achievers to ▪ Compressed Syllabus: 50% Yr2 in

Fast tracking advance faster Yr1 and another 50% in Yr 3
of students

CONFIDENTIAL 10
To ensure continuous improvement of Head Teachers, the following
initiatives for upgrading their performance will be conducted

Performance Development Program

▪ Educational Management
▪ Personnel Management
Training ▪ Financial Management
▪ School Governance
▪ Instructional Leadership ▪ Throughout the year
primarily during
▪ Coaching school holidays
Mentoring ▪ Consultation

▪ School Improvement Partner

Attachment ▪ School Attachment Program

CONFIDENTIAL 11
If the performance of an HPS drops below the excellence level, corrective
actions will be taken to protect the HPS status
Consequence Details

Year 1 Below Target

▪ Training ▪ Consultation
(BT) ▪ 2 weeks training
▪ Coaching and mentoring
▪ Remedial Program ▪ Counseling
Year 2 BT ▪ 2 weeks Intensive training
▪ Coaching and Mentoring
▪ Show cause letter

▪ Transfer ▪ Transfer to other schools

Year 3 BT (probation
for 2 years)
▪ Transfer to PPD/JPN where
vacancies are available
▪ Pooling ▪ Administrative attachment at
Year 5 BT PPD/JPN/KPM for 2 years

▪ VSS/early retirement Standard procedure

Year 7 BT ▪ Permanently in pool post for breaches of code
of ethics (e.g., crime)

CONFIDENTIAL 12
HPS FAQs
High Performing School (HPS) Potential Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs)
Topics Key Questions Preliminary Thinking
▪ What is a HPS? ▪ HPS are schools with ethos, character and a unique identity which enable
HPS Concept the schools to excel in all aspects of education. These schools have
strong and excellent work cultures and dynamic national human capital
for holistic and continuous development in addition to being able to
compete in the international arena, hence becoming the school of choice

▪ What is the ▪ HPS intends to set the benchmark of academic and non-academic
objective of achievement excellence for all schools types in Malaysia to strive
HPS? towards. HPS is not a new set of schools but is a recognition/status for
HPS concept
the will beof
attainment consistent with other types of schools in the
the benchmark.
education system
▪ What is the HPS Cluster Trust

difference Rationale
▪ Identify and cultivate
Malaysia’s cadre of
▪ Identify and cultivate
centres of excellence with
▪ Encourage greater private
sector involvement in
between HPS, internationally competitive a particular niche area transforming student
schools outcomes in public
Trust schools schools

and cluster ▪ Performance outcomes: ▪ Centres of excellence: ▪ Operations and

Defining
Internationally lead clusters in the accountability: privately
feature
schools? comparable levels of development of their managed to accelerate
achievement specializations improvements
▪ Absolute, holistic achieve- ▪ Absolute achievement ▪ Schools at all
Selection
ments (e.g. SKPM: 90%, (e.g. SKPM: 80%) performance levels
criteria
and specifc HPS annex) ▪ Support for transformation
from school community
▪ Extended autonomies ▪ Extended autonomies ▪ Extended autonomies to
Benefits given to school leaders given to school leaders private partner and school
▪ Additional funds and ▪ Additional funds from leaders
performance incentives government ▪ Private sector expertise
from government and resources

Creating schools of
Raising the bar to world- Closing the gap through
excellence in specialised
class levels public-private partnerships
fields

CONFIDENTIAL 13
High Performing School (HPS) Potential Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs)
Topics Key Questions Preliminary Thinking

HPS Selection ▪ What is the ▪ HPS are selected through a composite score derived from Standard
and Assess- selection Kualiti Pendidikan Malaysia (SKPM) and school average GPS score,
ment criteria for were a minimum of 92% marks are required and annexes/instruments
HPS? that comprises areas such as establishing international linkages, creating
towering personalities, benchmarking to international standards and
national and international benchmarks
▪ What are the ▪ The outcome indicators for HPS include school and student academic
main outcome performance, improvement, stakeholder satisfaction survey (including
indicators for parents, teachers and students) and achievements in the annexes items
HPS?

▪ What is the ▪ HPS’s operations is largely hinged on obtaining greater levels of

HPS approach of autonomy which empowers the schools principal and headmasters to
Operations HPS in make decisions spanning across the major operational activities within
achieving the the school which covers areas like curriculum provision and delivery,
desired flexibility in co-curriculum, financial management, teacher and student
outcomes? selection, school maintenance and other administrative functions. The
principal/headmaster will be supported by academic and non-academic/
professional staff in helping to achieve the desired outcomes

▪ Start with ‘pilot set’ of select set of schools to demonstrate proof of

HPS Pilot concept and model for other schools within the national landscape to
aspire towards

CONFIDENTIAL 14