School Leadership in the 21st century
Genting Highlands Malaysia
27-28 May 2015
SPEAKERS’ ABSTRACTS
Breakout 1A
Theme: The role of the school leader in student and staff 21st century skills development
Chair: Rebecca Picton, Regional Schools Programme Manager South Asia, British Council
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Paper title: Leadership for 21st century learning
Presenter: Dr Gu Saw Lan, Senior Lecturer, Institut Aminuddin Baki (Malaysia)
Abstract
This presentation elaborates on the 21st century skills that ought to be nourished in Malaysian
classrooms so that students can be productive citizens when they leave school. It also attempts to
justify how equipping students with such skills could facilitate the achievement of the six aspirations
for students as stipulated in the Malaysian Educational Blue Print 2013- 2015. This presentation
ends with a discussion on how school leadership can do its parts to promote 21st century learning.
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Paper title: Developing 21st century skills in teachers and students: some success stories
Presenter: Shamsuddin Hassan, Deputy Director, Smart Education Development, Educational
Technology Division, MoE (Malaysia)
Abstract
This paper examines current issues related to ways and means by which school leaders can equip
their teachers and students with 21st century skills. Chief among these are ICT integration in
teaching and learning as well as using ICT as a collaboration tool. Some good practices in exemplar
Malaysian schools provide a contextual framework to show how school principals undertake new
leadership responsibilities in 21st century skills development. Selected examples of successful 21st
century skills development in Malaysian schools are provided in order to share innovative
leadership practices. This paper will also suggest strategies that can serve as a guide for school
leaders to develop and implement 21st century competencies development plans, work with their
community, and provide innovative leadership, mentoring and advocacy for teachers and students
in their schools.
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Paper title: Leading in building a school-based 21st century learning ecosystem
Presenter: Datin Dr Norrizan Razali, Education Director, Microsoft Malaysia (Malaysia)
Abstract
Inspiring educators to be innovative in delivering teaching and learning activities proves to be a key
challenge for many school leaders worldwide. While there are clear needs to ensure learning
activities are promoting enough opportunities for students to develop real-world skills, school
leaders are also dealing with multiple external and internal variables that can detract from efforts to
build a 21st century learning ecosystem for their schools. Most leaders are confronted with having
to address holistic issues of student behaviour, test scores and 21st century skills. Every school
leader should have in their mission to build a school-based 21st century learning ecosystem the
capacity to apply the vision and demonstrate the true innovation that will inspire teachers to be bold
- to re-imagine pedagogy. The presentation will make reference to the experience of building a
school-based 21st century learning ecosystem with three Microsoft Showcase Schools’ leaders in
Malaysia.
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Paper title: An Innovative basic school system in Bangladesh: demonstrating leadership in
inner campus and outer campus
Presenter: Dr Muhammad Ibrahim, Chairman, Centre for Mass Education in Science, CMES
(Bangladesh)
Abstract
Leadership is crucial in this innovative second chance school system for the rural school dropouts.
Many of the activities which extend from the inner campus (classrooms) and outer campus (practical
applications) are peer organised and life-oriented. The leadership comes through participatory
classes, student government, home-to-home work, practical skills development and gender
empowerment. The leadership addresses the issues of the disadvantaged children empowering
them towards an effective education.
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Breakout 1B
Theme: The professionalisation of school leadership
Chair: Dr Wee Eng Lee, Institut Aminuddin Baki
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Paper title: Development of the Competency Framework for South East Asian School Heads
(2014 Edition): A journey into excellent school leadership
Presenter: Dr Lilibeth Franciso-Taa, Specialist, (SEAMEO INNOTECH) Southeast Asian
Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and
Technology (Philippines)
Abstract
SEAMEO INNOTECH developed the Competency Framework for Southeast Asian School Heads in
2003 to define the skills and attributes school heads need to effectively lead their schools to
success. It also serves as INNOTECH’s basis for the development of capacity-building initiatives for
school heads.
In 2014, SEAMEO INNOTECH updated the framework after conducting consultative workshops in
nine Southeast Asian countries in which 225 school heads and stakeholders participated. The
revised and updated framework now comprises five competency domains, 16 general
competencies, 42 enabling competencies, and 170 indicators. A guidebook on how to use the
framework has also been developed.
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Paper title: Towards leadership that enables further learning
Presenter: Samya Bou Hamad, Head of English Department, Center for Educational Research
and Development, Ministry of Education and Higher Education (Lebanon)
Abstract
In a survey on the top ten skills shortages among graduates, employers rated communication and
leadership skills at the top of the list. When the competencies for each were presented to Lebanese
school leaders, a mismatch was found between their university preparation on one hand, and their
21st century, deeper learning and employability skills on the other. Which components are missing
and what are the needs?
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Paper title: Understanding competency frameworks as a strategy for developing school
leaders: implications for policy and practice
Presenter: Dr Aini Ibrahim, Dean Designate, School of Education, Taylor’s University
(Malaysia)
Abstract
Drawing from the disciplines of talent management and adult continuing professional development,
this paper will present an emerging competency model for 21st century school leadership. It will
present both the benefits and risks of using a competency-based approach to school leadership
development. This paper will also share insights on crucial areas where such an approach to school
leadership is likely to fail or succeed. Implications for the nation’s leadership development policy
and practice will be highlighted.
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Title: The Effective Principals’ Training Programme: scaffolding competencies to create
world class school leaders
Presenters: Dr Maurice D Smith, Principal Director, National College for Educational
Leadership (Jamaica) / Dr Taneisha Ingleton, Director of Programmes, National College for
Educational Leadership (Jamaica)
Abstract
The competencies now demanded for effective school leadership include the ability to set vision and
strategise, lead the change agenda, engage in systems thinking, demonstrate a sense of service
and community and work collaboratively in teams. This presentation examines the impact of a
competency based programme designed to respond to the existing and emerging exigencies of
schools. It is intended to improve educational outcomes by strengthening the leadership capabilities
of school leaders.
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Breakout 1C
Theme: International working and partnerships
Chair: Dr Zaiton Ismail, Institut Aminuddin Baki
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Paper title: Partnership working: a system response to decentralisation in England
Presenter: John Ayres, Principal, Eden Academy (United Kingdom)
Abstract
Since the coalition government came to power in 2010, the English educational landscape has been
one of increasing decentralisation and diversity. A clear agenda was set out by the government that
the identification of educational provision and needs of local communities would be best carried out
by the communities themselves. Through this significant policy shift, English schools have found
themselves empowered to play a more strategic role. The traditional notion of schools being the
deliverers of centrally generated government policy and content has shifted fundamentally to
become a much more school led educational system. Partnership working in England has flourished
and been driven by a combination of political empowerment and systemic enablement through the
growth of academies, teaching schools and free schools and the formation of innovative and
creative collaborative enterprises.
This short paper will explore some of the issues around collaboration versus competition in a time of
rapid educational change and assess some of the benefits and challenges that an increasingly
school led system has produced. It will focus on a specific multi-academy trust of five schools based
in London to exemplify the main issues.
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Paper title: Leading an International School Partnership (ISP): a success story
Presenters: Mayssa Dawi, Regional Schools Manager (MENA), British Council / Reem Al Hout,
Principal, American Academy of Beirut (Lebanon)
Abstract
The paper will describe the elements of success in effective project leadership of the International
School Partnership (ISP) initiative, particularly in Lebanon. This model will provide insights for
innovative and rational thought processes supporting systematic change in schools. All schools
involved in the ISP reported that changes in pedagogy promoted critical thinking and group problem
solving. In addition networking and clustering of schools and groups have been very effective, and
international themes and activities have enriched learning.
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Paper title: Best practices in 21st century skills development in classroom instruction: soft
skills
Presenter: Nor Hainei Bt. Abu Bakar, Headmistress , SK Jalan 3, Bandar Baru Bangi,
Selangor, Cohort 2 (Malaysia)
Abstract
This paper gives an insight into how school staff and students are encouraged to develop skills for
survival in the 21st century. It indicates how a leader can inculcate in their students and staff the
need for each individual to develop these skills in order to meet the challenges of 21st century skills
development in classroom instruction. One of the challenging yet interesting ways to ensure that
these skills are mastered by students and staff is to nurture the soft skills through school ethos.
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Breakout 2A
Theme: The role of the school leader in student and staff 21st century skills development
Chair: Dominic Regester, Deputy Director Education East Asia, British Council
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Paper title: Skills for success: leadership education and its ability to prepare staff and
students for the 21st century
Presenter: Gloria Dada, Executive Director, Diverse Leaders Network (United Kingdom)
Abstract
What are the skills that young people demand in this rapidly changing world and what competencies
do teachers need in order to effectively teach those skills? This session will explore the benefits of
leadership education in equipping both students and staff with the knowledge, skills and mindset
needed to lead themselves and others to success in the 21st century.
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Paper title: The influence of distributed leadership approaches and practices in Malaysian
secondary school
Presenters: Rosnarizah Abdul Halim, Deputy Director, Teaching Education Division (TED),
MoE (Malaysia)
Abstract
Education reforms involve classroom change, hence this responsibility will be borne by the school
leader. This study investigates the influence of distributed leadership approaches and practices in
secondary schools in Malaysia. The findings show that 83 per cent of respondents agreed that
distributed leadership was being practised in their school and various approaches and practices
were found to be prominent. The study is in alignment with the Ministry of Education move towards
the distributed leadership model in the second wave of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2016 2020.
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Paper title: Middle leaders shaping students’ social and emotional competencies through
pastoral care
Presenter: Elaine Cunningham, Instructional Leader (Principal), Ministry of Education, St.
Hugh’s High School (Jamaica)
Abstract
The world of the 21st century demands socially and emotionally competent individuals to positively
influence its spaces of academia, work and civic interactions. This presentation will reveal the
nuances of practices and actions taken by leaders at the middle tier of a secondary institution in
order to facilitate the development of 21st century skills through pastoral care.
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Paper title: Best practices in 21st century skills development
Presenter: Bahtiar Bin Sanusi, Principal, Abdul Rahman Talib Secondary School (Malaysia)
Abstract
This paper gives an insight into how students and staff are exposed to, and encouraged to develop
their 21st century skills. It shows how a leader can inculcate in his students and staff the need for
each individual to develop these skills to meet the challenges in the 21st century environment.
Practical and interesting yet realistic techniques are used to ensure these skills are mastered by all
students and staff and that the 21st century generation is empowered.
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Breakout 2B
Theme: The professionalisation of school leadership
Chair: Jean September, Deputy Director, British Council South Africa
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Paper title: The head-to-toe show: self-reflective conversations from South Africa
Presenters: Landeka Diamond, Head Teacher, Westlake Primary School, Cape Town /
Branmal Swartz, Head Teacher, Norma Road Primary School, Cape Town / Nomfuneko Koko
Dziba, Principal, Qugqwala Primary School, King William’s Town, EC (South Africa) / Steven
Dire, Principal, Tlamatlama Primary School, Gauteng
Abstract
A critical overview of school leadership in South Africa where four practising principals, who have
participated in the British Council School Leadership Programme, together with a moderator will
share their testimonies and experiences.
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Breakout 2C
Theme: International working and partnerships
Chair: Junaidah Abdul Jamil, Institut Aminuddin Baki
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Paper title: What can be learnt about school leadership from the English experiment?
Presenter: Adrian Ingham, Education Consultant (United Kingdom)
Abstract
Brazil wishes to improve school leadership and to learn from changes in England. This paper will
examine aspects of English experience including increased school autonomy and reduced influence
for local government; teacher training devolved to schools; the fate of a college for school
leadership; increases in market-forces and both competition and collaboration among schools; and
the challenge for leaders to be entrepreneurs and educators, focussing simultaneously on basic
skills and a broader notion of education.
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Paper title: Changing minds, moving hearts: The Trust School Initiative for school
transformation
Presenter: Dato’ Dr Lee Boon Hua, General Manager, LeapEd Services (Malaysia)
Abstract
Education leaders recognise that change in teaching and learning becomes relevant only when
there is real change in the quality of classroom life that impacts on the learning experience for every
learner. In order for this change to take place there is a need for a systemic and systematic
intervention that aligns the beliefs, policies and practices of teachers, administrators, students and
staff members of a school. This paper will share the experience in school transformation under the
YA Trust School Programme. The holistic approach adopted to bring about a sustainable change in
school management has its fair share of challenges and it calls for the strategic engagement of
stakeholders and practitioners in specific areas of focus such as school leadership, classroom
pedagogy, student leadership and community involvement. It also calls for the development of
bespoke programmes, programme standards and their attendant tools for training, monitoring and
evaluation that will increase the probability of school-wide transformation.
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Paper title: The Connecting Classrooms programme: a tool for the new pedagogy towards
global citizenship
Presenter: Lina Chamoun Bitar, Assistant Director, Lebanese Maronite Order Schools
(Lebanon)
Abstract
This study helped to investigate the positive impact of the Connecting Classrooms programme run
by the British Council on igniting the components of the new pedagogies which was carried out in
three schools in Lebanon during 2014-15. The importance of this study lies in its exploratory nature
as it attempts to unveil the effect of a school's engagement in the Connecting Classrooms
programme on inducing a change leadership approach in the school and fostering learning
partnerships leading to deep learning goals. Furthermore, this study will provide a basis for further
study related to the role of Connecting Classrooms in enhancing the 6 Cs that Fullan described.
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Breakout 3A
Theme: The role of the school leader in student and staff 21st century skills development
Chair: Nor Hashimah Hashim, Institut Aminuddin Baki
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Paper title: Mapping 21st century leadership in language education
Presenters: Siti Salina Mustakim, Senior Lecturer, Institut Aminuddin Baki, Genting
Highlands, MoE / Professor Dr Ramlee Mustapha, Professor of Technical and Vocational
Education, Sultan Idris Education University (Malaysia)
Abstract
In an increasingly diverse, globalised, complex, and media saturated society, the need for new
types of leadership is indisputable. Prompted by the changing demands for language education and
skills in the 21st century, the purpose of this presentation is to map and review the preceding
studies on leadership in language education. The review will identify the integration of daily
instruction, coaching, mentoring, team teaching, learning communities and the utilisation of 21st
century tools as factors influencing the successful bridging between leadership and language.
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Paper title: Assessing and preparing students for the 21st century workforce through a
competency-based framework.
Presenter: Sumitra Nair, Director of Youth, Multimedia Development Corporation (Malaysia)
Abstract
Consistent with global developments to strengthen digital skills in young people, Malaysia has
developed a tool to assess the digital competency level of our youth, aged 15-24 years old. It is
used to track the impact of various digital empowerment initiatives undertaken nationwide, and
subsequently to help identify necessary interventions to strengthen the digital competencies of
Malaysian youth and school students. Initial results and future plans for this competency matrix will
be presented.
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Paper title: Curriculum development in a new era: the role and actions of school principals
Presenter: Wei-Hung Chen, Principal,Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School / Wei-Jui Liu,
Principal, Taipei Municipal Nan-Gang High School (Taiwan)
Abstract
Ever since stepping into the 21st century, schools all over the world have found themselves facing
unprecedented changes and challenges which required them to take the right actions regarding
curriculum development. The success or failure of these actions would decide not only the future of
the schools, but also the power of their nations. With the implementation of a new education reform
in Taiwan: 12-year Basic Education, all high schools are under pressure to make changes
according to a national curriculum framework that will be in practice in 2018. This talk uses a case -
'Quantum Jump: Curriculum and Instructional Design in CKHS' - taking place in a municipal high
school in Taipei to present how the principal leads in order to construct a systematic curriculum step
by step to meet public expectations and the world trends of a new era.
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Paper title: Thinkers and tinkers: Leftenan Adnan National School leapfrogs learning for all
Presenter: Siti Noor Farhana Zaipul Bahari, Teacher, SK Leftenan Adnan (Malaysia)
Abstract
This paper describes how an unexpected win at state level in the school’s Frog Virtual Learning
Environment (VLE) was utilized by the school leadership to spur the transformation of pedagogy,
staff development and dissemination of information to parents. Innovations such as tinkering with
old computers and transforming them into viable kiosks, blending teachers’ i-Think courses in one
site, providing innovative ID tags, free Wi-Fi-access to parents and other sustainable strategies that
enhanced learning for all will be presented.
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Breakout 3B
Theme: The professionalisation of school leadership
Chair: Parimala Thanabalasingham, Institut Aminuddin Baki
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Paper title: A study on the theoretical connotation of distributed leadership
Presenter: Dr Mourice Hsu, Principal, Pei-Hsin Junior High School Taichung (Taiwan)
Abstract
To study the new and suitable theoretical connotations of distributed leadership for Asian
organisations, especially for school management. Based on research results, the paper provides
several helpful suggestions for academia, educational administration, schools and institutions, as
well as for future studies
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Paper title: Improving school leadership through school development planning: a case study
from southwest rural China
Presenter: Dr Liu Jing, Programme Specialist, UNESCO INRULED (China)
Abstract
What’s the challenge to improving schools in the remote regions of rural China? What’s been tried
to promote school leadership? What are the lessons learnt from the initiative in terms of the
professionalisation of school leadership in rural schools? This presentation will answer these
questions by presenting a case study on the China-UK Southwest Basic Education Project which
introduced school development planning to schools. The ways to develop and deliver effective head
teacher training will be discussed.
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Paper title: Collective leadership for school improvement
Presenter: Dr Manit Boonprasert, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education, Rangsit University
(Thailand)
Abstract
Following a school-based management approach, the principal’s strong leadership is the key to
ensuring a school's strong academic performance. This presentation covers quality assurance
systems and research findings on the use of the results of external quality assessment to improve
school academic performance in Thailand. The rationale is that quality assessment of schools and
the use of assessment results as input in developing strategic improvement plans, is a continuous
and cyclical process. A school's leadership is accountable to each individual learner for providing
them with the opportunities to acquire and develop the character, knowledge and skills which are
essential for taking an effective role in the 21st century world.
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Breakout 3C
Theme: International working and partnerships
Chair: Shingai Ziki, Regional Support Manager Schools, British Council (Zimbabwe)
Paper title: School leadership in Sub-Saharan Africa: sharing multiple perspectives
Presenters: George Oduro, Provost, College of Distance Education, CoDE, University of Cape
Coast (Ghana) / Rose Izizinga, Headteacher, Kitante Hill School (Uganda) / Thabisa Ndlazi,
Project Manager, British Council (South Africa) / Susan Douglas, Senior Adviser Schools,
British Council (United Kingdom)
Abstract
This is an opportunity for SSA to share learning, experience and impact. It is also an opportunity to
share how we plan to be part of bigger school leadership conversations in SSA at policy level.
In Rwanda, we worked with the Rwanda Education Board and VVOB to put pedagogical leadership
on the policy agenda.
In Ethiopia we worked with the Ministry of Education and universities to develop a postgraduate
diploma in school leadership that will soon become a requirement for all head teachers. Support
included a curriculum review, a validation workshop, syllabus and module development and a short
training course to assist faculties across Ethiopia in implementing the programme.
In Mauritius, the British Council collaborated with the Mauritius Institute of Education to provide a
ten-day professional development programme for secondary school heads and deputy heads,
integrating elements of the Connecting Classrooms school leadership course materials.
The school leadership course provided supported school links. These have been popular and have
helped to increase awareness of the need for good school leadership, resulting in an ever growing
demand.
We have built trust with Ministries, parastatal organisations, development partners and many more
and now we have to invest further in that trusting relationship by stepping up and providing the next
generation of quality services.
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