PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7 JANUARY 2023 — Edvolution, in partnership with PwC Malaysia and the Ministry of Education, has launched the second cohort of the Applied Leadership Programme (ALP), which is set to impact 118 schools with targeted learning interventions in 2023.
A total of 59 district education (PPD) officers were selected to participate in the eight-month digital leadership programme, which trains and supports officers to lead interventions to transform student learning outcomes in high-need schools within their districts, with the use of technology.
This year’s ALP follows the success of last year’s inaugural cohort, which saw 58 officers implement learning interventions in around 120 schools and demonstrate a 50% growth in leadership competencies on average.
This year, the ALP is also joined by two new programme advisors, YBhg. Datuk Dr. Habibah Binti Abdul Rahim, Senior Fellow at Institut Masa Depan Malaysia and former Director-General of Education, and YBhg. Dato’ Dr Mehander Singh Nahar Singh, Former Director of Institut Aminuddin Baki (IAB).
The ALP aims to accelerate school transformation through the empowerment of district- and school-level leadership potential, in line with the Education Ministry’s District Transformation Program (DTP) and Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025.
During the programme, officers learn through online masterclasses, receive coaching, and are guided to conduct root cause analyses for their chosen schools. Then in turn, officers coach a team of Teacher Leaders, who work together to design, implement, and sustain interventions to improve student outcomes based on each school’s needs.
Speaking at the launch ceremony of ALP’s second cohort today, Tuan Zainal bin Abas, Director of the School Management Division (BPSH) at the Ministry of Education, said, “Fadhlina Sidek, our Education Minister has said that with the change in government following last year’s general election results, there is now room for a new beginning. With this programme, we have a new opportunity to bring about change to our current education system. I hope all participants will take this opportunity through the Applied Leadership Programme to implement changes not only in the institutions where you work, but also in schools, so that benefits may be felt by all layers of society”.
YBhg. Dato’ Dr Mehander Singh Nahar Singh, Former Director of Institut Aminuddin Baki (IAB) and ALP advisor said, “I had the privilege to interview nearly 30 candidates for this programme during the selection process, and I can say that the spirit, personal qualities, and desire for knowledge displayed by the ALP 2023 participants during interviews have been exceptional and impressive. If I were to head a division today, I would select these same officers without a second thought because of the motivation and intellectual ability they have to drive an organisation.”
Ms Nurul A’in Abdul Latif, Deputy Executive Chairman of PwC Malaysia, said, “We are once again very proud to be a strategic partner in supporting the implementation of this programme. PwC Malaysia is once again working with Edvolution because we believe in the transformation of teachers and education policy stakeholders that will benefit all students in Malaysia.”
Melissa Tanya Gomes, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Edvolution, said, “ALP’s goals are aligned with the MOE’s aspirations to build high quality schools. As the ‘middle managers’ of the education system, PPDs play a critical role in realising the MOE’s aspirations at the school level. Throughout this programme, officers will be trained to apply three main skill sets that we have identified as core to meeting schools’ targeted needs, i.e. data management, problem solving, and coaching and mentoring”.
The ALP is an on-going public-private partnership between Edvolution, the Ministry of Education, and programme sponsors PwC Malaysia and Google for Education. Yayasan Petronas was a programme sponsor for ALP’s inaugural cohort last year.
Edvolution Enterprise is a social enterprise based in Penang, Malaysia that aims to develop and mobilise transformative leaders, competent educators and effective community builders to bring about lasting improvement to Malaysia’s education system.
Their flagship Applied Leadership Programme (ALP) develops and supports education officers to drive strategic, school-centred initiatives that address educational issues affecting vulnerable students. To date, Edvolution has provided training to 80 education officers, who in turn mentor around 2,000 school leaders and teachers in 140 schools nationwide, reaching roughly 42,000 students. Their training and impact focus on three primary areas: student academic achievement, literacy skills, and engagement levels.
Edvolution also partners with corporations, foundations, schools and other organisations to achieve social impact objectives, providing end-to-end support in research, project management and impact measurement.
