Allianz Malaysia Expands Eco Educational Initiative To SMK Langkawi, Nurtures Future Leaders

LANGKAWI, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Starting as a post-pandemic pilot programme to reignite Pulau Tuba’s children’s motivation towards learning and remaining in school, the Allianz Eco Quest (“Initiative”) has grown into a long-term effort to ensure that no child is left behind in their educational journey.

Allianz Malaysia Berhad (Allianz Malaysia), through its corporate social responsibility arm, has expanded its flagship environmental and education initiative to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Langkawi, Pulau Tuba, broadening its reach to support students at the secondary school level.

The expansion was officially launched on Jan 15 by Allianz Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Sean Wang, alongside Allianz Malaysia Chairman Zakri Mohd Khir, Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) Assistant Manager Mohammad Shauqi Md Rezali, board members, teachers and students of SMK Langkawi.

According to Zakri, Allianz Malaysia’s engagement with the island community in 2018 revealed that some students were struggling academically and that many were dropping out of school.

“We were surprised to find that some of the children couldn’t read, even though they were in standard four (Year Four). What’s even more concerning is that the dropout rate here is significant,” he told the media during the press conference of the event.

In response to these challenges, Zakri said Allianz Malaysia launched the Initiative in 2022 at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pulau Tuba, in collaboration with Incredible Hearts PLT, a social organisation that focuses on customised education and a gamification approach to educational intervention.

He explained that the Initiative was designed as project-based learning, with more interactive and alternative approaches that incorporate elements such as gamification, digitalisation, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and performing arts to help improve students’ academic performance.

“We started with the primary school students and monitored them for about two and a half years. Today, those same students from standard four, five and six (Year Four, Five and Six) have moved on to secondary school and we are continuing the journey with them,” he said, adding that the company intends to see them through until form five and assess how many students will eventually complete their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations.

Meanwhile, Wang said the extension reflects the group’s belief that sustainable community impact requires continuity and ownership.

“By extending Allianz Eco Quest to SMK Langkawi, we are empowering our alumni to become mentors, role models and changemakers. This ensures that the values of environmental stewardship, resilience and lifelong learning continue to take root within the community,” he said in his opening speech during the launching of the event.

In the meantime, Incredible Hearts PLT Chief Executive Officer Nurul Asna Hidayah Mior Abdul Rahman said that throughout the three-year expansion from 2026 to 2028, the secondary school participants will play an active role in mentoring younger students at SK Pulau Tuba.

She said that while the primary school component focused on place-based and eco-education themes, the secondary school Initiative places stronger emphasis on capacity building, equipping students with leadership, facilitation and practical life skills.

“These high school students are a bit different. They have more autonomy and a stronger desire to lead, and we want to support them and guide them in a positive direction.”

“That is why at the secondary school level, the Initiative focuses more on co-curricular activities, character development and positive behavioural change, while inspiring students to step up as leaders,” she said, adding that the long-term goal is to ensure the students are ready to lead the Initiative once they graduate.

She added that through the Initiative, students will also be encouraged to design and create their own games, with facilitators providing guidance and the necessary tools, while also being organised into clubs such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Sports and Expression, with additional clubs planned in subsequent years.

When asked about the effectiveness of the Initiative, Asna said it had led to many improvements not only in academic performance, but also in students’ behaviour and awareness of environmental issues.

“There were challenges at the beginning of the Initiative where some students were extremely shy to take part in the activities, but after joining the class a couple of times, their social skills and confidence levels started getting better each time,” she said.

Nadziah Mohd Nor, 44, whose son is an alumnus of the programme, said the Initiative had helped build her child’s confidence.

“My child used to find it hard to talk to others, but after joining the programme, became more outgoing and confident. He even entered an Arabic speech contest at the Langkawi district level and won third place,” she said.

Nadziah added that parents were involved too, helping maintain the school environment through gardening and setting up small libraries to encourage reading and environmental awareness among pupils.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Nazri Ramlim, 46, said he backed his son’s participation in breaking the cycle on Pulau Tuba, where many fishermen’s children follow their parents into the same trade.

“Although I’m a fisherman myself, I hope my son can go further in his studies, even to Master’s or PhD level, and secure a better job,” he said, encouraging more parents to enrol their children in the programme.

For 12-year-old Muhammad Zakhwan bin Mohd Fikri, the Allianz Eco Quest programme has helped improve his understanding of science.

“In regular class, we just study from books, but in the Allianz sessions, we play games about the solar system, trees, and even design projects like building robots. That’s how we learn how lunar and solar eclipses happen.

“During schooling hours, we just learn about the topics in academic subjects. However, during Allianz Eco Quest classes, we get to learn more through simulations, board game play, and innovation projects. It helps me to better understand scientific concepts such as the solar system, robotics, and photosynthesis while having fun learning,” he added.

-- BERNAMA