| The Project to Improve English in Rural Schools (PIERS) is a unique and integrated approach to raising standards of English, Mathematics and Science (and of education as a whole) in Malaysian schools through continuous in-service teacher development. The ultimate aims are to narrow the gap between the rural and urban students, to enhance the quality of the teaching profession, to broaden opportunities, and to improve Malaysias economic competitiveness through a solid foundation in English. It is effective because it: (1) follows up course training sessions with classroom and school visits every week; (2) lasts throughout the school year; (3) improves both English language proficiency and English, Maths and Science teaching methodology among teacher participants; (4) increases students and teachers exposure to and use of English outside the classroom; (5) trains teachers in the appropriate use of ICT for productivity and as an aid to teaching and learning; (6) measures and evaluates progress towards targets for students, teachers and schools; (7) involves clusters of about 15 schools, 50 teachers of English, Maths and Science and 8,000 students; (8) costs about RM50 per student per year or RM5 per student per month; (9) is supported by the Ministry of Education but is funded independently; and (10) includes ongoing support for those who have completed the programme, i.e. the PIERS alumni. This paper presentation will describe the PIERS programmes and their successes since 2006 and their continuing evolution. |
