NEW STATE EDUCATION DIRECTOR DR MUHIDDIN YUSIN WANTS SECTOR HEADS, DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICERS (PPDS) AND ALL SCHOOL LEADERS AND TEACHERS TO PURSUE EDUCATION EXCELLENCE "IN LINE WITH OUR ASPIRATION TO MAKE SABAH A LEADER IN EDUCATION EXCELLENCE IN MALAYSIA."

New Sabah education boss seeks smart partnership

Kota Kinabalu  January 15, 2010: New State Education Director Dr Muhiddin Yusin wants sector heads, district education officers (PPDs) and all school leaders and teachers to pursue education excellence "in line with our aspiration to make Sabah a leader in education excellence in Malaysia."

Banking on a slogan of "Sabah Moving Forward", Dr Muhiddin said he has drawn up several short-term strategies as part of his department's Action Plan.

Dr Muhiddin assured that he and the rest would turun padang (go to the ground) for the Program Bersama Pelanggan beginning this year.

"When we visit a district, we will open a service counter to listen to issues or problems affecting school heads, teachers and students where education is concerned."

Saying the emphasis should be on "Education for All and All for Education", he stressed that this forms the basis for smart partnership between educators and non-educators who include individuals, voluntary organisations, parents, retired teachers and local community leaders.

To make this possible, there would be a strong networking system between the department and local authorities at district and state levels for collaborative efforts in planning and implementing education development projects in the State.

"The District Action Council, for example, must know what is going on, especially when we are building new education institutions," he said.

The other strategy is to get parents and local leaders to contribute effectively "as partners in our pursuit of academic excellence and school infrastructure development."

Aware of the generally poor attendance of parents at school events, Dr Muhiddin said the department would draw up a programme to strengthen Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBGs).

On reported cases of teachers who play truant, he said:

"Once we receive specific reports, we will investigate whether these are true. If found to be true, the Disciplinary Board of which the Director is Chairman will deal with the matter accordingly."

Under his leadership, the department would also make early preparations for the opening of the new school term in the preceding year.

"Instead of waiting until the end of the current year, we are preparing for 2011 from now onwards. Our mechanism is to look at possibilities of issues arising in terms of schooling matters such as furniture and other infrastructure, and transfer of teachers.

"While the department's headquarters monitors the situation from time to time, we rely heavily on the district education officers. In working ahead of time, we will also implement what is necessary, say for a national-level education events where Sabah is the host," he said.

On the Ministry's Key Result Areas (KRAs), he said its achievement would depend on the performance of all State Education Departments.

"As far as Sabah is concerned, we have to adapt our department's KRAs to those of the Ministry. This means all our department's sectors, district education offices and all schools in the State need to co-ordinate their respective KRAs in line with the department's KRAs."

The Department's vision is to provide quality education towards creating a generation of human capital of excellence.

Towards this end, he said its mission is to develop education leadership and management towards realising the potential of having an education organisation of distinction.

"Our mission is also to provide quality education service towards producing balanced human capital who have the capacity to develop themselves, their family, community and nation."

In this respect, Dr Muhiddin said the department's hala tuju (direction) is on comprehensive and focused planning in six key areas that form the core business of education.

He named these as: Academic Achievement; Financial Management; Manpower Resource Management; Human Capital Development; Delivery System; and Provision of Infrastructure.

Ranau-born Dr Muhiddin started his teaching career in January 1976, and served as Deputy Director of Education for four years until his promotion.

He has a degree (majoring in History) from UKM Bangi in 1982.

He has a Master of Science degree (majoring in Education Management) from Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom.

And a Master of Science degree (Alternative Medication) from Colombo International University, Sri Lanka.