Johor pilot schools a 'bold' policy experiment, says UTM academic

The Sekolah Rintis Bangsa Johor (SRBJ) initiative, introduced by the Johor state government in 2024 on the idea of Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, is drawing growing attention as an education model that could serve as a national reference.

The initiative, which has the full backing of the Education Ministry (MOE), aims to produce a generation of globally competitive pupils. After nearly two years of implementation in 10 pilot schools across Johor, SRBJ is no longer seen merely as a state education project.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology senior lecturer Dr Mohd Syahidan Zainal Abidin described SRBJ as a "bold" policy experiment.

He said the model does not simply add another category of high-performing school, but serves as a platform to test education policy that other schools could refer to in future.

"SRBJ was created at a time when the national education system is searching for new approaches to strengthen the quality of learning," he told Kosmo!.

He said SRBJ's main strength lies in four core pillars: English language mastery, the empowerment of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), a standardised assessment system, and post-SPM education pathways.

"These four components complement one another so that every phase of learning forms a strong foundation before pupils move on to higher education institutions or enter the workforce," he said.

According to Mohd Syahidan, SRBJ has also brought a major shift in the learning approach, with pupils no longer passive recipients of information but encouraged to think critically through project-based and inquiry learning.

Exposure to robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printers and autonomous systems from primary school level, he said, reflects Johor's seriousness in preparing pupils for the demands of the future economy. Programmes such as the STEM Club and Anak Emas STEM help identify and nurture pupils' talents from a young age.

"However, SRBJ's success cannot be measured by the sophistication of technology or modern facilities alone. It must be assessed through the change in learning culture that takes place in the classroom," he said.

He said cooperation between the Johor State Education Department, the MOE and Apple, along with efforts to explore collaboration with Harvard University, shows a commitment to building an education ecosystem of international standard.

The biggest challenge, he said, is ensuring teachers are genuinely ready to shift from conventional methods to project-based and problem-solving pedagogy.

"Johor's move to send SRBJ teachers and administrators for STEM pedagogy training in Singapore before the schools began operating was the right step. SRBJ's success must also be measured through improved pupil performance and the effectiveness of learning practices, not just examination results," he said.