As we step into the last quarter of 2024, we want to take a moment to reflect on a momentous occasion held on 31 August, hosted by YTL Foundation and our partner, the University of Birmingham. 

Teachers, school leaders, loved ones, and our partner and fellow funders travelled from across Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and the UK to celebrate the pioneering class of our PGCEi (Malaysia) 2024 delivered under the Teachers for Educational Equity Initiative. 66 teachers were recognised for their achievements and growth as educators and active changemakers in transforming Malaysia’s education landscape.

“You will have learnt about perseverance, about the value of community, to continually adapt and refine your pedagogical methods for a mosaic of unique individuals with diverse needs. You have shown maturity in your classroom practices and professionalism in being open to the possibilities of change in education,” said Professor Karen Guldberg, Head of School of Education, in her keynote speech at the Celebration Ceremony.

These teachers’ determination to grow as inclusive educators is evident in their tenacity to balance work and study. What fueled them to push through personal and professional challenges?

“When I first started teaching, I believed that knowing my subject and managing a classroom were the keys to being a good educator. I worked hard to deliver content effectively and build rapport with my students. But over time, I realised that something was missing – my teaching wasn’t fully reaching every student,” said Dee De, one of our Graduating Speakers who teaches at Kachin Refugee Learning Centre.

“My greatest struggle was managing a classroom of 20+ students with different backgrounds, English proficiency and motivations while making my teaching relevant for all students. Even with this intention, I still felt that some students found it either too difficult or too easy, too boring or too unrelatable,” shared Gan Jia Huey, a 2022 TFM Fellow who taught at SK Sultan Idris Shah II, Gerik, Perak.

Although Malaysia promises education for all, the reality often tells a different story. Like Dee De and Jia Huey, the class of PGCEi 2024 is deeply motivated to create an inclusive classroom and meaningful learning experience for their students who come from some of Malaysia’s most underserved and marginalised communities – the Orang Asli and Orang Asal communities in Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, respectively, the displaced communities across Klang Valley, and beyond.

It is no coincidence that our Celebration Ceremony was held on Hari Merdeka – it was the ideal day to remember and celebrate how important our teachers are today as they were when Malaysia first achieved her independence in 1957.

One Programme Director; Dato’ Kathleen Chew succinctly emphasised the value of our teachers:
“You have the ability to change the life of your students, and we hope that the knowledge and practices that you have learnt during this past year will equip you to better serve your mission.”

The success of the programme in its inaugural year encouraged us to call for nominations for a second PGCEi (Malaysia) cohort and invite the class of 2024 to apply for the MA Education (Inclusion, Equity and Transformation). Both programmes began in August 2024 with 34 teachers enrolled in the PGCEi (Malaysia) and 17 teachers and school leaders enrolled in the MA Education. 

YTL Foundation proudly announced the 2024 scholar cohort at the annual induction ceremony held at Menara YTL in August. This year, 28 outstanding scholars were welcomed into the scholarship programme. The vibrant, dynamic, and academically gifted scholars were invited to participate in the induction ceremony, along with their parents. 

The event was graced by esteemed guests of honour, including YTL Foundation’s trustees, Dato’ Yeoh Soo Min and Dato’ Lim Kwang Mi, as well as the Programme Director, Dato’ Kathleen Chew. Adding a unique touch to this year’s ceremony, two current scholars, Amirul Aseri and See Yi Vonne, served as the event’s emcees. Amirul and Yi Vonne shared their journey as a scholar and illustrated what the 2024 Scholar Cohort could look forward to.

The night ended with a dinner, allowing the scholars to get to know their fellow scholars, alumni, and the YTL Foundation team. In addition to a successful induction event, the Foundation recently hosted a 3-day retreat and boot camp for the current scholars at AC Hotels by Marriott in Kuala Lumpur. Esteemed alumni Jude Baguio, Chloe Ho from YTL Power, and Shannon Wong from Frog Asia shared valuable insights on navigating work life. 

A session by PEMIMPIN on leadership styles and another by Teach for Malaysia (TFM) on effective communication further enriched the experience. The retreat concluded with a session on growth mindset, encouraging scholars to embrace challenges and promote lifelong learning.

Through these initiatives, YTL Foundation remains committed to nurturing future leaders, ensuring they are well-equipped to make meaningful contributions to society.

YTL Foundation, in collaboration with the Global Teacher Prize and PEMIMPIN GSL, is pleased to announce the winner of this year’s Malaysia Teacher Prize. This year's competition attracted over 2,209 applications from dedicated educators across the nation, reaching an impressive 180,000 teachers.

At a memorable ceremony, Dr. Velerie Wheelervon Primus from Sekolah Kebangsaan Bingkor, Sabah, was named the 2024 Malaysia Teacher Prize winner. His unwavering belief in the potential of students with special needs and his innovative teaching methods resonated deeply with the judges, showcasing the profound impact that a passionate educator can have. As the recipient of the top prize, he was awarded a cash prize of RM50,000 and will have access to valuable professional development opportunities provided by PEMIMPIN GSL.

In recognition of their outstanding contributions, the other four finalists were also honoured, each receiving a cash prize of RM5,000. Their dedication to nurturing young minds and shaping the future of education deserves commendation and serves as an inspiration to educators everywhere.

The KelasKita programme has witnessed remarkable strides, thanks to the dedicated efforts of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) volunteers. From June to November 2023, 85 volunteers from PWC generously contributed 6,013 hours of their time, impacting nearly 60 students across three Homes.

Guided by their passion for education, these volunteers played a pivotal role in enhancing students' proficiency in Bahasa Melayu and English.A guardian from one of the Homes praised the programme and its volunteer tutors for significantly improving students' language skills.

Surveys echoed the success: 89% of volunteers loved the learning materials, 84% would recommend the programme, and 80% of students found it easy to use. The results were clear: 74% of students improved in Bahasa Melayu, and 30% in English – all in just five months.

Building on this success, PwC looks forward to another year with KelasKita, aiming to grow even more. Together with YTL Foundation, they are committed to bringing quality education to more students across Malaysia. The KelasKita programme not only educates but also inspires hope – a testament to the transformative power of community-driven education initiatives.

Dee De and Nat Hew, dedicated educators serving in alternative learning centres in KL, led the recent Continuous Professional Development online seminar hosted by YTL Foundation and the University of Birmingham.

Recent graduates of the PGCEi (Malaysia) and current students of the MA Education, delivered under the Teachers for Educational Equity Initiative, they shared their reflections on how the PGCEi was a unique opportunity for them to proactively address educational challenges in underserved schools and explore ways of creating inclusive curriculum and classrooms.

The reality is that educators like Dee and Nat teach mixed-abilities classes that comprise students from various socioeconomic backgrounds and often, traumatic backgrounds.

"The PGCEi equipped us with the pedagogical tools such as the Universal Design for Learning and Rosenshine Principles which we were able to adapt to our localised environments with guidance from our lecturers," shared Dee De and Nat Hew. 

"Our weekly discussions with fellow classmates and tutors provided us with an opportunity to bounce ideas on how to scale our learning materials for students with different learning needs and/or abilities, and foster a spirit of collaboration among students."

A key takeaway from the seminar is that mistakes are valuable learning opportunities. "It is common for educators to make mistakes and instead of hiding our mistakes, we can share it with our students or fellow educators. Use it as an opportunity for us to grow and learn from those mistakes," said Dee De.

Our next CPD seminar is themed 'Trauma-Informed Teacher Training: A Case for Teacher Wellbeing' by Lisa Munson. Join us online on 20 November, at 8PM. Educators, if you are interested, reach out to Michelle at huiyee.low@ytl.com 

Leaps Academy recently embarked on two enriching journeys to support the well-being and growth of children from refugee and local communities. On May 9, 19 IMU volunteer students conducted a mental health and emotional resilience session for 42 children from refugee families.  

Through interactive activities like breathing exercises, expressive art, mood boards, mystery box, trust walk races, and yoga, the children learned to regulate emotions such as anger, sadness, fear, jealousy, and stress. Creating affirmation cards helped cultivate a positive mindset, boost self-esteem, and enhance emotional well-being.

Simultaneously, CLiC resumed its classes and holiday programme after a four-year hiatus. Starting April 25, 15 students joined ukulele classes every Thursday, embracing inclusivity by welcoming a 13-year-old with autism. From April 23, local students from various schools in Sentul came together for English lessons every Tuesday. The holiday programme received overwhelming interest, with over 80 sign-ups in less than a week. On May 29, 53 children from the Sentul community participated in diverse activities. They enjoyed a music workshop incorporating rhythms and body movements, expressed themselves through sketching and drawing, and showed keen interest in STEM experiments led by eight UTAR lecturers.

These initiatives at Leaps Academy highlight a collective effort to nurture and uplift young minds and hearts, fostering a community of learning, resilience, and inclusivity.

In May, hosted by Malaysia Acumen Academy, the Southeast Asia Acumen Fellows Selection Conference brought together 27 finalists united by a shared mission to alleviate poverty and drive sustainable development across the region. Their stories of innovation and perseverance resonated deeply, illuminating paths toward a brighter future.

These moments of triumph and solidarity inspire us to continue pushing boundaries and creating opportunities for meaningful change. Together, we move forward with gratitude and anticipation, fueled by the belief that our collective efforts will shape a better tomorrow.
 
In June 2024, 10 inspiring leaders from across Southeast Asia in addition to the 9 from Malaysia, who are committed to a lifelong journey of eliminating poverty and injustice were selected as the first cohort of Southeast Asia Acumen Fellows. From transforming the education system to uplifting the lives of smallholder farmers, the 2024 Cohort are united in their commitment to build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world. Over the course of eight (8) months, the Fellow Candidates will come together to learn with and from each other in a series of learning labs and immersives. After which, they will join Acumen’s growing community of over 1600 social innovators & builders from across the globe. 

PEMIMPIN GSL continues to champion educational excellence and leadership through three significant initiatives.

On May 9, the Leadership, Enrichment, and Development (LEAD) Program, Cohort 4, was officially launched at Days Hotel & Suites, Kuala Lumpur. Supported by Yayasan Hasanah and in collaboration with the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Education Department (JPWPKL), this programme enhances educational leadership among middle leaders. Sixty Heads of Language Departments from primary and secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur were selected from 140 applicants. Over the next 10 months, they will engage in five in-person sessions and five online Professional Learning Community (PLC) sessions, aiming to uplift educational leadership and student literacy.

LADAP Plus, Malaysia’s first teacher professional development mobile application by PEMIMPIN GSL in collaboration with Yayasan Sime Darby, is transforming teacher empowerment. Within five months, the app has achieved 20,000 downloads, reaching 18,000 teachers across Malaysia. Offering seven courses on effective pedagogy strategies and social-emotional well-being, LADAP Plus is committed to enhancing its features and expanding its offerings to holistically enhance teachers’ skills and effectiveness.

Through these initiatives, PEMIMPIN GSL remains dedicated to celebrating and empowering educators, fostering a brighter future for Malaysia’s education landscape.