LeapEd Services Sdn Bhd (LeapEd) and Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) have unveiled Sekolah Anak Malaysia (SAM), Malaysia’s first digital school, designed to adapt to the digital age with a curriculum and teaching methods tailored for an online environment. The initiative aims to enhance flexibility, interactivity, and individual student development.
SAM’s launch follows LeapEd’s Post-COVID Recovery Research Study, which highlighted the urgent need to bridge learning gaps exacerbated by the pandemic. The recent 2023 PISA scores further underscored the necessity for innovative educational solutions. Despite the Malaysian government’s efforts to address learning losses post-pandemic, challenges persist, particularly in improving overall learning levels and supporting disadvantaged groups, as noted in the World Bank’s April 2024 report.
The new digital school, which aims to reach 10,000 students within the next decade, initially caters to students from Form 1 to Form 3. Plans are in place to expand into upper secondary education next year and to introduce a primary school programme by 2026.
Shahnaz Al-Sadat, Chairperson of LeapEd Services and Managing Director of SAM, emphasised the opportunity to drive lasting educational reform. “LeapEd is not merely addressing a temporary need but is laying the foundation for significant educational transformation. We are collaborating with the government and civil society to address immediate learning deficits while striving for long-term improvements. We invite all Malaysians to join us in making this initiative a success for future generations,” she stated.
SAM benefits from strategic partnerships with several leading organisations. PayNet, a key partner, is instrumental in funding SAM’s industry-linked curriculum and providing scholarships. Jun Maria Tan Abdullah, Senior Director at PayNet, highlighted the firm’s commitment to integrating financial technology into education and fostering digital and financial literacy among students.
Other notable partnerships include:
- 21K School: This collaboration with Asia’s leading online school brings global best practices and local expertise to SAM’s curriculum.
- IIUM Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity: Provides essential support for student development within a sustainable framework.
- Malaysian Red Crescent Society (PBSM/RCSM): Integrates leadership development and community engagement into SAM’s programme. Tuan Haji Hakim Bin Haji Hamzah, Secretary General of PBSM, expressed hope that the collaboration will instil volunteerism and humanitarian values in students.
Additionally, LeapEd introduced the READy+ programme, targeting literacy and numeracy challenges in primary education, especially in the wake of COVID-19. Part of the Ministry of Education’s Program Sokongan Pemulihan Pendidikan (PSPP), READy+ aims to enhance teacher skills and support inclusive learning environments.
SAM and READy+ were launched at the PACE (Partnership, Advocacy, and Collaboration in Education) forum at the International Islamic University Malaysia. The forum, titled “Reimagining Education, Innovation in Action,” is dedicated to addressing critical educational issues and fostering reform.
Shahnaz, recently a finalist for the Asia Education Medal by T4 Education and HP, remarked, “These initiatives aim to address the educational gaps worsened by the pandemic and set new standards for excellence in Malaysian education. SAM and READy+ mark the beginning of a transformative journey towards a better educational future.”
