| Syazwani Hj Rosli |
SCHOOL leadership plays a vital role in the the holistic development of students, said the Minister of Education.
“There is a need for strong principals to collaborate with their deputies and teachers to form instructional teams towards designing and implementing effective instruction and assessment,” added Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, Minister of Education, in his opening address at the Teacher’s Day Conference themed, ‘Leadership Excellence in Shaping Excellent Schools’, at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.
“As a team, school leaders should encourage teachers’ voices towards improvising the various aspects of schooling including students’ achievement, attendance, behaviour and others,” he said.
The minister said that investing in good principals was a cost-effective way to improve teaching and learning.
He said efficient school leaders collaborate to achieve a common goal.
“In Brunei, as in many other countries, school leaders begin their professional careers as teachers. There is no formal requirement for principals to be trained as school managers. They are often appointed on the basis of a successful record as teachers with the implicit assumption that this provides a sufficient starting point for school leadership.
Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, Minister of Educa-tion, during the event. – DEAN KASSIM
“However, in our current situation, there is a growing realisation that headship is a specialist occupation that requires specific preparation. The reasons for this paradigm shift are due to the expansion of the role of school principals; the increasing complexity of school contexts and recognising that effective preparation and development of school leaders will make a difference,” he said.
As of March, the Brunei Programme for Senior School Leaders (BPSSL) was introduced as part of the ministry’s improvement initiatives that was carried out with the collaboration of the Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Advancement (ILIA). According to the him, the programme focuses on developing their personal leadership; leading in teaching and learning; leading people and effective teams; leading and managing the organisation (or the school) as well as leading and managing change.
The commencement of the Leadership Standards, he said, aims to maintain consistent high-quality school leadership in order to achieve the nation’s Vision 2035 of ‘well-educated and highly skilled people’. He added that it will also provide opportunities for serving school leaders to grow and improve and will strengthen the training, development and recruitment of aspiring school leaders.
“Apart from BPSSL, the Ministry of Education will continue to provide support to our school leaders in various forms of professional development, mentoring and coaching,” he continued.
The minister hopes that with the development of the leadership programmes and standards, school leaders will be able to achieve the competency level aspired of quality and effective leaders. He also encourages school leaders to motivate themselves towards effective teaching and learning decision-making because with every change they make, the rewards come in the satisfaction of their students’ academic accomplishment. I trust and believe that you (school leaders) will be able to make good use of your learning today and practice them in your leadership roles in your respective schools.”
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