92 secondary schools achieve ‘new deal’ target

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KUALA LUMPUR: Ninety-two schools or 4.2 per cent of 2,204 secondary schools nationwide have achieved
the target set by the Education Ministry under the ‘new deal’ for secondary school principles for the year 2010, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said the ministry was satisfied with the performance given that it surpassed the initial target of two per cent.

“The ministry hopes that more will achieve the target next year; the ministry will make sure schools which are still lagging behind are given attention.

“The school improvement programme, launched last year, will ensure the ministry’s target of enhancing the performance of all schools nationwide is achieve,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after the presentation of the New Deal for School Principals (Secondary) and School Heads (Primary) under the National Key Result Area (NKRA) of Education 2010 at the Education Technology Division in Bukit Kiara, here, yesterday.

Muhyiddin said 16 of the 92 schools managed to achieve at least 88 per cent in composite score set by the ministry.

“What is more
encouraging is that out of the 92 secondary schools, 55 or 59.78 per cent are in the rural areas.

“A school in the interior of Sabah, Sekolah Menengah Desa Wawasan in Tambunan, has qualified to achieve incentives under the new deal,” he said.

All principals in these schools will receive RM7,500 and a certificate in recognition of their hard work.

Asked on the command of English among primary and secondary students, Muhyiddin said he was still waiting for the full report.

He expressed the hope that the English language instructors brought in from the United Kingdom would be able to help enhance the competency of local English language teachers nationwide.

Next year, some 300 teachers from the United States would be coming and teach English in the country’s schools under the Fulbright English Teaching Assistance programme.

On the proposal to make English a must-pass subject at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia level, he said the matter was being studied. — Bernama