The Maharani School Programme (MSP) in Malaysia continues to gain recognition for its dedication to self-discovery and personal development.
The parents of several adolescent girls who participated in the MSP’s first phase have eagerly joined the chorus of support for the programme, sharing stories of their daughters’ transformative journeys – and providing a testament to its transformative impact.
From conquering fears to nurturing essential skills and achieving academic goals, the MSP has become a catalyst for personal improvement and empowerment for its participants.
RYTHM relaunched the MSP in five schools in early 2022 in collaboration with its long-standing partner, PINTAR Foundation. The schools are SMK Gombak Setia in Gombak, SMK Bandar Rinching in Hulu Langat and SMK Batu Unjur, SMK Tengku Idris Shah, and SMK Tengku Ampuan Jemaah in Klang.
The first phase – the ‘Self Discovery’ stage – was held between July and December last year, with 200 girls aged between 14 and 16 joining the after-school programme. The Education Ministry-endorsed initiative prioritises teens from the bottom 40% of income earners (B40 households).
Participants have eagerly shared their encouraging experiences from this phase, offering compelling evidence of its life-changing influence.
Parental Perspectives
At a recent event hosted by PINTAR at SMK Bandar Rinching, several parents spoke about how the programme actively engaged and positively impacted their children.
The parents of Nursyazilla Riduansyah, Erawati Kahar and Awang Johari, said they were grateful for the MSP making a remarkable difference in their daughter’s life.
“The engaging activities and supportive environment helped our daughter develop strong social skills. As a result, she is more confident socially,” said her father, Awang.
“She did well in her studies before joining the programme but did not participate much in group activities. However, the MSP saw a change to that. She is now more encouraged to join group studies,” Earwati noted.
joined the chorus of support for the programme.
Hasnira Mohd Ali, whose daughter Siti Sahara Amizan Abdullah has also shown tremendous improvements in her studies, said:
“I appreciate the programme’s positive influence on my child’s academic journey,” Hasnira said. “The personalised approach and effective teaching methods have ignited my daughter’s genuine love for learning.”
Siti Sahara’s grades have also significantly improved. “She was unmotivated during the pandemic due to the extended school closures and inconsistent online classes. The isolation also made her anxious, but I have seen a lot of changes in her since,” Hasnira added.
Also read: RYTHM’s Maharani Schools Programme Achieves Overwhelmingly Positive Results in Early Phase
and PINTAR during a recent event.
Another parent, Norhaslinda Jaaffar, was likewise glad for the MSP. “The programme has been a blessing for my daughter. Her social skills were limited before, but she is now flourishing,” she said of her daughter Nur Awfiyah Halily Abdul Halim.
“The programme’s emphasis on teamwork and communication has helped Nur Awfiyah build meaningful relationships and easily navigate social situations. Her improved social skills have positively impacted their overall happiness and well-being.”
The latest testimonies show that the MSP provides a supportive and enriching environment for students to develop confidence, connect with peers, and improve academically. It has also demonstrated the tremendous emotional support the beneficiaries have gained to ensure they have the skills to thrive inside and outside the classroom.
Also read: The First Phase of Maharani Schools Programme in Malaysia Equips Participants to Overcome Challenges
