Teachers' role vital in making education reforms a success

Teachers' role vital in making education reforms a success


Education reforms: Hajah Norjum Haji Mohd Yussop, Deputy Permanent Secretary (CS), Ministry of Education, delivers her speech at the SPN21 Diagnostic Assessment Workshop yesterday. Picture: BT/SaifulizamBANDAR SERI BEGAWAN



Sunday, August 24, 2008


EDUCATION reforms will fail unless those responsible for strategy implementation consider the importance of teachers in bringing out the best in students' learning, a senior Ministry of Education official said.

Citing consulting firm McKinsey's research on 'How the world's best performing school systems come out on top' last year, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Corporate Services) Hjh Norjum Hj Mohd Yussop reiterated that student learning and development can be facilitated by providing teachers with the knowledge, skills, understanding and support.

"No education system can rise above the quality of its teachers," she said during yesterday's launch of the SPN 21 Diagnostic Assessment Workshop on three core subjects; English language, Science and Mathematics at the Rizqun International Hotel.

She said that based on the research, many school reforms failed in many countries despite massive spending, smaller class sizes and greater school freedom, because the "quality of an education system depends ultimately on the quality of teachers."

Over the years, the Ministry of Health has invested a significant amount in developing good systems in education to provide teachers with the environment and opportunities for personal and professional growth, she added.

Almost 600 primary and secondary school teachers, along with selected officers from departments under the Ministry of Education and Universiti Brunei Darussalam's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE) will participate in the six-day workshop which will starts tomorrow at Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB).

The workshop is part of the Ministry of Education's initiatives to support the 21st Century National Education System (SPN 21) and helping the teaching force to be mindful of developing their capabilities to tackle the challenges ahead.

The programme is led by strategy implementation specialists Optimise International and a team of education specialists from Australia Catholic University, Curtin University and Cengage Learning.

The six-day workshop will focus on further developing the knowledge and skills needed by teachers, school leaders and support staff from the ministry and in schools, to accurately diagnose and assess the abilities, interests, needs and potential of each student.

Hjh Norjum added that the ministry is determined that SPN 21 will be an example of what a well-researched and superbly executed education reform can achieve when there is the will, enthusiasm and commitment of all those involved to making it a success.

The Brunei Times