HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE BEST INFRASTRUCTURE BUT PRODUCE THE BEST RESULTS CONSISTENTLY.

Based on results; not infrastructure

Kota Kinabalu: High-performance schools don't necessarily have the best infrastructure but produce the best results consistently.

Deputy Education Minister I, Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said one of the most important criteria to be considered a high-performing school was the school's Gred Purata Sekolah (GPS), or School Average Grade.

"It doesn't mean you have all the good facilities you'll be regarded as high-performing schools. (It depends) on the GPS say you have 100 candidates for SPM and practically all get A1s, this is GPS.

"And then the products (such as) towering personalities that you produced so far, a good alumni, linkage with international (organisations or institutions) and how the school can become a benchmark to others.

These are the criteria outlined and not only the infrastructure," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan had said Sabah schools were poorly equipped in terms of facilities and infrastructure, pointing out the schools could not compete with better-equipped ones in the peninsula to be selected as high-performance schools.

Speaking after a working visit to SJK(C) Hwa Siong in Putatan, Saturday, Wee said the selection was not made randomly, adding some states also did not make it to the list.

"I know the sentiment...even some of the Victoria Institution boys called me and said 'why my school that has been around for 100 years was not ranked as the top 20?'  it is merely based on the criteria as announced by the Deputy Prime Minister," he said.

"But my advice is don't give up. I know some schools in Sabah are very good. First of all, don't worry because this is only the first phase.

"Eventually we need to achieve 100 schools  this year 20 had been announced, next year 30 and in 2012, 50 will be announced."

Towards this end, Wee urged the schools in Sabah to wait for the soon-to-be released ranking of all the 10,000 primary and secondary schools.

"Then you'll know your positioning and, where and which section to improve," he said.