Four schools selected to pioneer Sekolah Pengajar Programme

KUCHING: Four schools, namely SK Matang, SK Samariang, SK Catholic English, and SK RPR Batu Kawa, have been selected to pioneer the Sekolah Pengajar Programme through the Batu Lintang Teacher Education Institute (IPGMBL).

The inauguration of the programme took place on Thursday (July 11) at SK Matang, the host school, with around 100 lecturers and trainee teachers from IPGMBL in attendance.

Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, the chief political secretary to the Sarawak Premier, believes that such programmes can effectively enhance the learning system for school students by keeping up with the latest technological advancements.

“This Sekolah Pengajar Programme is very significant because trainee teachers from the IPG are brought to schools to assist in teaching alongside the teachers and students.

“The learning methods they bring are creative and initiative-driven, as they observe the needs of the students and share new approaches with the schools for implementation,” he said during the launch.

Fazzrudin explained that the programme indirectly provides trainee teachers with practical experience before starting their actual careers, giving schools the advantage of receiving new teaching and learning methods.

“We are aware of the current challenges in teaching children who are well-equipped with digital technology, video games, and other digital tools.

“Their approach is to introduce new learning methods that are more engaging and informative.”

He also expressed hopes that similar programmes can be expanded throughout Sarawak.

On June 20, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek introduced the Teacher School Programme as an effort by the Institute of Teacher Education Malaysia (IPGM) in collaboration with trainee teachers from IPGM and the English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC) to showcase pedagogical practices with new initiatives and formulas related to addressing learning issues.

According to her, the programme provides an opportunity for IPGM lecturers and school teachers to collaborate in testing pedagogical initiatives and formulas, particularly those related to student learning issues.

The programme is used as a laboratory to empower educator competence for contemporary teaching and learning among trainee teachers, lecturers, and teachers.

Through the Sahabat Bahasa approach, the programme focuses on the principle of mastering communication in Malay fluently and speaking English confidently and casually, especially among students.