Bangsa Johor pilot schools joins Apple's global elite in digital education

JOHOR BARU: Four Bangsa Johor pilot schools have become the first daily schools in Malaysia to be recognised as Apple Distinguished Schools, placing them among a select group of just 1,000 innovative educational institutions globally.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the milestone reinforced the state's commitment to digital learning and positions the pilot schools as elite institutions on the world stage.
"There are only nine Apple Distinguished Schools in Malaysia, and until now, all of them were fully residential schools. Four of these nine are Bangsa Johor pilot schools (SRBJ)," he said.
"This makes the SRBJ schools the first and only daily schools in the country to be accorded this honour."
The schools awarded the distinction are Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tasek Utara, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tasek Utara, SMK Kota Puteri, and SK Kota Puteri 4 in Pasir Gudang. These institutions form the first cohort under the Sekolah Rintis Bangsa Johor (SRBJ) initiative.
"These schools were not selected by chance — they are part of a bold experiment," Onn Hafiz said during a town hall session at SMK Tasek Utara, attended by parents, teachers, and education officials.
"If successful, the programme will be expanded across the state."
The Apple Distinguished School designation is awarded to schools that demonstrate continuous innovation in learning, teaching, and the learning environment — a reflection of Johor's ambition to lead in educational technology.
As part of Johor's digital education transformation, 2,496 iPads have been distributed, benefiting 2,264 pupils and 213 teachers at the four SRBJ schools.
The iPad rollout is a collaborative initiative by the Johor state government and the Raja Zarith Sofiah Foundation, in strategic partnership with Apple Education, and sponsored by QSR Brands.
Onn Hafiz said the programme aligned with Johor's vision of developing a new generation of learners through the SRBJ model, which promotes blended learning, digital literacy, and 21st-century competencies.
"This recognition by Apple is a testament to the state's forward-thinking approach and the strength of public-private partnerships in education," he added.
The SRBJ initiative is personally endorsed by the Regent of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and forms part of the state's broader strategy to position Johor as a developed, digitally-advanced economy by 2030.
The programme focuses on three key pillars set by Tunku Ismail: economic empowerment, modern infrastructure, and world-class education.
As part of the initiative, RM30 million will be invested to upgrade schools with smart classrooms, AI-powered laboratories, refurbished libraries, modernised teachers' lounges, and revamped canteen facilities.
Meanwhile, the State Education and Information Committee chairman Aznan Tamin said that SRBJ students would sit for a new Primary Level School Examination (PLSE) and the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), which is equivalent to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
He said these changes were part of Johor's strategy to internationalise learning outcomes and ensure global recognition of the state's educational standards.

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