THE TRUST SCHOOLS PROGRAMME
(PROGRAM SEKOLAH AMANAH)
A Public-Private Partnership for Holistic and Sustainable Education Transformation
The Trust Schools Programme (TSP), or Program Sekolah Amanah (PSA) is a flagship Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative launched in 2010 by the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) in collaboration with Yayasan AMIR, and implementation support from LeapEd Services Sdn. Bhd. This transformative programme aims to elevate the quality of public education in Malaysia through a whole-school improvement model grounded in autonomy, accountability, and community engagement.
TSP introduces a contextualised and innovative approach to education reform, guided by the Trust Schools Standards and Practices (TSSP) framework. It empowers schools to lead their own transformation journeys while remaining aligned to national curriculum requirements and policies.
TSP IS ANCHORED ON FOUR STRATEGIC GOALS,
EACH CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS BUILDING A HOLISTIC, FUTURE-READY EDUCATION ECOSYSTEM
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Developing High Quality School Leadership and Management
Strengthening the capacity of school leaders to practise strategic, instructional, and distributive leadership grounded in
data-informed decision-making.
Improving the Quality of Teaching and Learning
Empowering educators through continuous professional development, peer learning, and evidence-based pedagogy to promote student-centred and inclusive learning experiences.
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Maximising Student Achievement and Potential
Supporting the holistic development of students - academically, emotionally, socially, and physically, towards nurturing confident, values-driven, and resilient individuals.
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Strengthening Engagement of Parents, Communities,
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and other Stakeholders
Encouraging collaborative partnerships with parents, alumni, and local communities to create a supportive, accountable, and engaged school environment.
IMPLEMENTATION MODEL
Trust Schools operate within the national education framework but benefit from greater school-based autonomy in key decision-making areas such as resource allocation, curriculum delivery, and school development planning. Each school undergoes a structured transformation journey through either:
TSP 1.0
5-Year Model
TSP 2.0
3+2-Year Model
These are all supported through:
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Development of a Trust School Roadmap and Annual Improvement Plan (Trust Schools’ Improvement Plan / TSIP)
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Intensive on-site coaching and mentoring by Advisors, Coaches and education specialists.
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Key interventions including Continuous Professional Development (CPD), Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), Performance Management System (PMS), Student Voice Group (SVG) platforms, and embedded whole-school reform strategies.
SCHOOL SELECTION AND DIVERSITY
The selection of Trust Schools is based on several criteria such as leadership commitment, teacher readiness, and community engagement potential. Schools are selected irrespective of location or performance level, ensuring inclusivity and representation across:
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National, Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools
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Fully residential and high-performance schools
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Islamic religious schools
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Orang Asli and under-served rural schools
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B40-dominant and urban-poor communities
To date, TSP has reached 94 schools across 13 states and 34 districts, impacting more than 6,000 teachers and 160,000 students.
IMPACTS AND OUTCOMES
Independent assessments and internal monitoring have demonstrated significant and sustainable progress in:
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Improved student attendance, engagement, and academic outcomes.
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Strengthened teacher quality, confidence, and classroom practice.
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Enhanced leadership effectiveness and school management processes.
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Greater parental and community participation in school development.
The success and impact of the Trust Schools Programme are also reflected in the broader education ecosystem, with key elements such as instructional leadership, teacher professional development, and whole-school transformation aligning with the Ministry of Education’s TS25 initiative. This demonstrates the programme’s relevance and contribution to national school improvement efforts.
FUNDING AND SUSTAINABILITY
The Trust Schools Programme is financed through a blended funding model involving:
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Corporate sponsorships, CSR partnerships, and grants.
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The issuance of the world’s first Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI) Sukuk in 2015 by Khazanah Nasional Berhad, enabling both institutional and retail investors to directly support public education transformation.
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To ensure continuity and sustain the impact of the Trust Schools Programme beyond the formal transformation phases, Yayasan AMIR has established a suite of post-programme platforms that promote continuous development, peer collaboration, and scalable innovation across the education ecosystem:
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Rangkaian Sekolah Amanah (RaSA): A sustainability and knowledge-sharing platform that connects Trust Schools across Malaysia, enabling them to exchange best practices, harness collective expertise, and cultivate a culture of continuous school improvement.
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PALS (Peer-Assisted Learning and Sharing): A structured peer mentoring and capacity-building initiative that empowers matured Trust Schools to support other schools in their transformation journey - scaling the impact of the programme through practitioner-led learning and collaborative leadership.
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TRAIL (Teacher Resource and Advancement Centre for Information and Learning): A scalable professional development initiative currently in development, designed to centralise and enhance in-service training for teachers by providing access to curated resources, expert facilitation, and technology-enabled learning environments.
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The Trust Schools Programme exemplifies a bold, locally grounded yet globally informed education reform model. By leveraging the synergy of public policy, private sector support, and community ownership, TSP paves the way for a more equitable, innovative, and future-ready Malaysian public education system. It remains a key catalyst in achieving the aspirations outlined in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013–2025 and beyond.
Yayasan AMIR (919856-X)
Suite 56, Unit 2-1, Level 2
The Podium, Tower 3, UOA Business Park
No 1, Jalan Pengaturcara U1/51A
Seksyen U1
40150 Shah Alam
Selangor
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+603 2935 0058