Govt to reward principals and teachers in country’s top performing schools

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PUTRAJAYA: Special incentives such as one or two months’ salaries are being considered as tokens of appreciation for the contribution of principals and headmasters in excellent performing schools.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said teachers would also enjoy these incentives as the success of a school was not just dependent on the principal or headmaster but was a joint effort.

“A committee at the ministry level is looking into this and more detailed information will be announced before the end of the year,” he told reporters after presenting prizes to winners of the RHB-The Star Mighty Minds Challenge national finals.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said between 3% and 4% of principals and headmasters would qualify for this next year.

Impressed: Muhyiddin listening to SMK Methodist Tg Malim student Michael Goh Joon Seng as he demonstrates his team’s water level detector model in Putrajaya yesterday. Looking on are RHB Bank Berhad chairman and RHB Capital Berhad director Tan Sri Azlan Zainol, and Star Publications (M) Berhad chief executive officer and group managing director Datin Linda Ngiam.

He said the deal would not be based solely on examination results or students’ achievements but on the school leadership.

“We are finalising the other criteria and will announce these soon,” he said.

When tabling the budget last Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Government would ensure that schools are managed and administered professionally by principals and head teachers as well as their management teams.

For excellent performing schools, he said the Government would introduce the New Deal or Bai’ah as an appreciation of the contribution and performance of principals and head teachers.

Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, said the Government would determine the performance targets that must be achieved, as agreed by principals and head teachers.

If targets were achieved, he said rewards in the form of monetary and non-monetary incentives as well as autonomy in school administration would be accorded.

However, he said action would be taken if they failed to meet targets for two consecutive years.

On the national scholarships for the 30 creme de la creme students, Muhyiddin said this would start next year.

“It will be based on this year’s Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results and other considerations,” he said.

He said the scholarships fall under the Public Services Department, adding that a committee would be set up to make the assessment.

The scholarships were announced as part of the budget last Friday as Najib said the Government intended to reward students who excelled in their studies.

The scholarship recipients would further their studies in world renowned universities.

On the Mighty Minds competition, Muhyiddin said it was a very good programme and congratulated both RHB and The Star.

“I hope it can be expanded to many more schools,” he said.

Muhyiddin said the students who took part in the competition used skills, creativity and innovation in their work.

“I hope people can see how intelligent our students are,” he said.