High Performance School (Malay: Sekolah Berprestasi Tinggi) also known as HPS is a prestigious title conferred to a group of schools in Malaysia that have ethos, character and a unique identity to excel in all aspects of education. The schools have a tradition of high culture and excellent work with the national human capital and continuing to grow holistically and are competitive in the international arena. The title is given by Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE). This is a section of a part of the National Key Result Areas of Government Transformation Programme (GTP).
Background
Desire to identify and create Sekolah Berprestasi Tinggi (SBT) has been announced by the Prime Minister, Dato Seri Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak in his speech at the National Assembly administration members, civil servants and government-linked companies (GLCs) at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) on 27 July 2009. This is as a section in one of the six main part in NKRA which is ″Improving Student Outcome".
"As a pilot project, a total of 100 schools, consisting of ordinary types, schools, cluster schools and boarding schools. With this, we will provide an environment conducive to teaching and learning and promote cooperation between the public and private sector to drive the achievement of students. All these plans will be implemented within three years before the end of 2012."
MOE has prepared an action plan to identify 100 SBT by 2012. This effort is in line with the "1Malaysia: People First, Performance Now". On 9 September 2009, MOE decided to recognize 100 schools consisting of government schools and government-aided schools to be set up as SBT and a SBT Sector Management Division of Residential School and Cluster School (BPSBPSK) so that management of SBT can be implemented efficiently.
A total of 20 schools have been announced as SBT Cohort 1 by Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on 25 January 2010. The recognition ceremony was held at SMK Aminuddin Baki, Kuala Lumpur on 29 January 2010. On 18 February 2011, a total of 23 schools was announced as SBT Cohort 2 at Sarawak. Another 9 schools were elevated to SBT on 25 May 2011. On 4 February 2012, another 14 schools recognized as SBT Cohort 3 in a recognition ceremony in Putrajaya. On 28 December 2012, 25 schools were given SBT status. After almost 2 years, the fifth cohort consisting of 13 schools were announced, bringing the total to 128. RM27.8mil had been allocated for the schools to enhance their quality of education. The government has agree to continue the project from 2013 to 2015 with the target of 10 SBTs each year with at least one SBT in each state.
Rational
Rational appreciation and give recognition to the school HPS is to: Lifting Best Quality Schools: Improving the quality of school performance through increased levels of autonomy to enable schools to implement innovation in education (e.g., organizational management, instructional management, curriculum management, financial management and human resource management). Producing Outstanding Students: Produce outstanding students of international caliber to further their education in educational institutions in the world and become superior personalities in all fields of endeavor. Bridging the Gap Between Schools in System: Inspire other schools to develop excellence to high levels through bench marking, mentoring and networking with HPS.
Selection
Selection of schools for SBT recognition were conducted by the Selection Committee of SBT, chaired by the Director General of Education (DG) and staffed by the Deputy Director of Education (TKPPM), Operations Sector Education Sector Policy and Development TKPPM Education, Teaching Professionalism TKPPM Sector Development, Director Boarding Schools Management Division and the School of Excellence (BPSBPSK) and the Secretariat of the National Key Result Areas (NKRA). The selection criteria are announced to all schools through MOE portal.
SBT candidate for recognition consists of primary and secondary schools which are in Band 1 based on a composite score that takes into account the Grade Point Average (GPS) and Decision Self Rating School (SMEs) based on Malaysian Education Quality Standard (SQEM).