An education company and finance organisation make a digital first school in Malaysia

In neighbouring Malaysia, Educational Social Enterprise LeapEd Services Sdn Bhd has partnered with several companies, most notably Payment Network Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (PayNet), to establish a new school in Malaysia.

This school, named Sekolah Anak Malaysia (SAM), is designed with digital environments in mind. This way, LeapEd aims to maximise the benefits of online learning, such as flexibility, while minimising its drawbacks.

The organisation in charge

LeapEd is a Malaysian-based social enterprise that has been in operation since 2010 and aims to provide quality schooling to as many people as possible. LeapEd has developed and implemented various educational models tailored to modern needs, such as the Islamic School Enhancement Programme, which integrates contemporary sensibilities with Islamic practices. These initiatives have benefited over 250,000 students, 12,000 teachers, and 15,000 schools across Malaysia.

In addition to working directly with schools, LeapEd has collaborated with the Ministry of Education Malaysia through a public-private partnership (PPP) to transform school programs into more student-centered approaches. Collaborating with multiple organizations to enhance the educational process, the creation of their own school with PayNet's support is a natural progression.

The main partner

As compared to LeapEd, PayNet is a payment service that is helping to facilitate the transition from cash to digital payment in Malaysia. As a founder partner of SAM, PayNet will be contributing to funding the school’s industry-connected curriculum. PayNet will also be providing scholarships for students. 

“PayNet is committed to empowering the next generation through future-ready education,” said Jun Maria Tan Abdullah, Senior Director of PayNetAkar. “By integrating finance technology into the curriculum and nurturing holistic, global citizens, we’re bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world opportunities.”

“This partnership align with our vision to spark early interest in digital and financial literacy, ensuring students are equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving financial services landscape.”

Adapting to online matters

Although programmes that encourage students to enter the financial industry may be more prominent, given the partnership with PayNet, SAM was created with a digital first mindset, not a financial first one. Virtual learning had an abrupt rise during the pandemic, when the need to socially distance made digital schooling a requirement. However, most school curriculums weren’t prepared for the transition, resulting in students struggling to adapt to the new format.

Traditional curriculums, designed for in-person learning, did not translate well to online platforms, resulting in issues like Zoom fatigue, reduced motivation, and a diminished sense of community and social connectedness among students and teachers.

This impact on students' well-being hindered their learning abilities. LeapEd notes that Malaysia experienced a decline in grades following the sudden shift online. Malaysia’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) scores, which measure the performance of 15-year-olds in mathematics, science, and reading, have been decreasing for years—a trend that a study conducted by LeapEd attributes to the pandemic.

This underscores the need for educational institutions to address learning challenges and ensure that underprivileged groups are not overlooked in the process.

Maximising benefits

Despite the challenges of online schooling, students have expressed appreciation for the convenience it offers. The flexibility of remote learning allowed them to manage their time more effectively, reducing commuting time and giving them more time for rest and personal activities.

In order to maximise these benefits, school curriculums must be reworked with a virtual environment in mind. This is what SAM aims to achieve. Besides collaborating with PayNet, LeapEd is also working with other organisations for SAM. These organisations include the 21K School, permitting SAM to tap their expertise in virtual learning; IIUM Sejahtera Center for Sustainability and Humanity, which will provide residence and facilities support and provide a framework for student development; and the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, which will work on developing students to exhibit leadership qualities and engaged with their community.

SAM aims to enrol 10,000 students over the next ten years. Currently, it accepts students from Form 1 to Form 3, Malaysia’s equivalent to lower secondary schooling, with plans to expand into upper secondary education and primary school by 2026.

“LeapEd is not just responding to a momentary need but hopefully laying the groundwork for a lasting transformation in education.” said Shahnaz Al-Sadat, Chairperson of LeapEd Services and Managing Director of SAM of the collaborative project. 

“We are working with the government and civil society organisations to tackle the immediate issue of learning deficits while simultaneously working toward ensuring long-term quality education. We’re eager to engage all Malaysians in making this innovation a success for future generations because every child deserves access to a world of possibilities.”