KOTA KINABALU: The State Government will continue to strengthen its collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to drive educational excellence in its efforts to produce knowledgeable, high-quality and competitive human capital.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the State Government remains committed to improving educational infrastructure and the welfare of school communities throughout Sabah.
“This reflects our commitment to ensuring that education remains the primary catalyst for the state’s progress,” he said at the 50th Sabah and Labuan Secondary School Principals’ Education Management Convention at Klagan Regency Hotel, 1Borneo Hypermall, here today.
His speech was delivered by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Isnin Aliasnih.
“The State Government also provides various educational assistance and initiatives to ensure that no Sabahan is denied access to higher education because of financial constraints.
“This includes continuing the implementation of the education assistance initiatives introduced between 2021 and 2025. These measures are aimed at easing the financial burden on students and their families,” he said.
Congratulating the Sabah Secondary School Principals’ Association (PPSMS) on successfully organising the convention, Hajiji said he fully supports the association’s efforts to make the gathering a key platform for developing organisational leaders who remain responsive to the evolving landscape of education.
“We are well aware that the leadership of school principals is a key determinant in the success of the Ministry of Education’s education transformation agenda. Knowledge- sharing and synergy such as this are the driving force behind ensuring that the quality of our education continues to reach greater heights.
“I would also like to congratulate the principals for their efforts in improving Sabah’s State Average Grade (GPN) from the 5-point range to the 4-point range in the 2025 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
“The same goes for the improvement in the 2025 Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) results. Achieving a GPN of 4.85 is the best academic performance in Sabah’s history to date.
“Indeed, principals and teachers working on the ground are the backbone and the key figures behind every one of these achievements,” he said.
He said the theme of this year’s convention, “Principals the Implementation Catalyst of the Malaysia Education Plan (RPM) 2026-2035,” is a call to action that demands a comprehensive paradigm shift.
“Principals are not merely administrators, but the chief architects of the future of the nation’s education. This decade requires us to lead with a bold vision. We must drive digital innovation, strengthen students’ identity and values, and produce globally competitive human capital,” he said.
According to Hajiji, the RPM 2026-2035 is a continuation of the Government’s policy commitment to further strengthening the national education system so that it remains responsive to the needs of the times while being inclusive.
He said the plan was formulated as a strategic compass to ensure the country’s education system remains relevant, competitive and human-centred in meeting the challenges of the coming decade.
“It represents the nation’s strategic direction, recognising education as a fundamental right for all while serving as one of the key drivers of the country’s social and economic advancement,” he said.-pr/BNN
