SK Seri Permai innovation

Penang-based  government primary school, Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Permai,  in Bayan Baru has been shortlisted in the Top 10 list for the is in the running for “World’s Best School Prizes”

They are in the running for the $250,000 (MYR 1,153,500.00) World’s Best School Prizes.

The school has developed an ingenious way to ease the heavy burden of the bags students carry on their backs, and has been named in the Top 10 shortlist for the World’s Best School Prize for Innovation.

Through its ingenious Smart n Easy Table 2.0 (SnET 2.0), which provides additional compartments to desks, including lockers, water bottles and stationery compartments, and bag storage space under each table, the school has seen an increase in homework submissions from 54% to an impressive 91%, along with corresponding school performance, due to improved student wellbeing.

The five World’s Best School Prizes, founded last year by T4 Education in collaboration with Yayasan Hasanah, Accenture, American Express, and the Lemann Foundation, are the world’s most prestigious education prizes.

Another Malaysian school in the running is Sekolah Kebangsaan Kanchong Darat, a government primary school in Banting, Selangor, which has become a beacon of resilience with its Great Mind, Healthy Citizens project boosting attendance and tackling obesity, has been named in the Top 10 shortlist for
the World’s Best School Prize for Supporting Healthy Lives.

Amidst the challenges during the COVID-19 lockdown, the school took bold steps to empower its students and uplift the entire community’s physical, emotional, and spiritual health, resulting in an 18% drop in obesity rates and countless stories of renewed student wellbeing.

Dato’ Shahira Ahmed Bazari, Founding Trustee & Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah, said:

“Congratulations to the remarkable teachers and students of Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Permai and Sekolah Kebangsaan Kanchong Darat for their well-deserved inclusion in the Top 10 shortlists of the World&#39 Best School Prizes 2023,”

“Hasanah is immensely proud to sponsor this prestigious prize for the second year. In a world where more young people yearn for purpose and aspire to create positive change, these schools stand as beacons of inspiration. This recognition not only showcases the exceptional calibre of Malaysia’s schools but also signifies a significant stride towards a progressive society, where educators and young people play a pivotal role in shaping our shared future.”

Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education and the World’s Best School Prizes, said:

“The schools shortlisted for the World’s Best School Prizes, no matter where they can be found or what they teach, all have one thing in common. They all have a strong school culture. Their leaders know how to attract and motivate exceptional educators, inspire change, and build excellent teaching and learning environments.

“I must congratulate Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Permai and Sekolah Kebangsaan Kanchong Darat on being named in the Top 10 shortlists for the World’s Best School Prizes 2023. Schools across the globe will learn from the story of these trailblazing Malaysian institutions and the culture they have cultivated.”

The five World’s Best School Prizes – for Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives – celebrate schools everywhere for the pivotal role they play in developing the next generation of learners and for their enormous contribution to society’s progress, especially in the wake of COVID.

The Prizes were established to share the best practices of schools that are transforming the lives of their students and making a real difference to their communities.