Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the School Improvement Programme under the national key result area (NKRA) for education had shown an improvement of 40 per cent.

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said the programme which was implemented since the middle of this year, involved hundreds of schools which were previously at Band 6 and Band 7, had now risen above this "weak" category.

He said the school improvement report was tabled at a meeting of the NKRA for education at the Parliament building today.

"This shows that the approach used in improving students' academic performance through the coaching programme and other initiatives, as well as monitoring schools in Band 6 and 7 have had encouraging results.

"I have issued a directive today that if we are forced or need to spend a bit more but if it can help improve the performance of hundreds or even thousands of schools to get out of the lower and middle categories, we will do it."

Muhyiddin was speaking at an appreciation dinner hosted for former secretary-general of the ministry Zulkurnain Awang and former education director-general Alimuddin Mohd Dom who recently retired, in Putrajaya, tonight.
    
At the function, the deputy prime minister also launched the book titled Zaman Awal Remajaku, authored by Zulkurnain.

Also present were Muhyiddin's wife Noorainee Abdul Rahman and the ministry's new secretary-general Rosli Mohamed and new education DG Abdul Ghafar Mahmud.
    
Muhyiddin said the combined able leadership of Zulkurnain and Alimuddin at the ministry had raised the prestige of the teaching profession in this country.
    
He said the two had carried out their duties well in fulfilling the ministry's important role in producing world-class human capital.
    
"They had successfully steered the ministry through several critical phases in educational development in the country.

"These include the implementation and review of the National Education Blueprint 2006-2010, introduction of the policy of 'Upholding the Malay Language and Strengthening the Command of English' (MBMMBI), planning and implementation of the National Key Result Area (NKRA) for Education, and the drawing up of the Tenth Malaysia Plan."
    
Muhyiddin said without their (Alimuddin and Zulkurnain) advice, guidance and overall monitoring, it would have been difficult for the ministry to successfully implement the policies and programmes planned.
    
"I wish to express my deep appreciation for their leadership in ensuring proper implementation of each of the ministry's initiative to improve the quality of education in the country."
    
However, he said, retirement did not mean the end of service contribution to the people and nation.

- Bernama