Model Sekolah Berkesan: Satu Kajian Kes Sekolah-sekolah Kebangsaan Luar Bandar

The purpose of this study is to explore the characteristics that exist in effective schools. Specifically, there are three objectives for the study namely; 1) using the qualitative method of data collection to explain the characteristics of effective schools in the rural areas, 2) discover how far do the criteria set by the School Inspectorate in the selection of the winners of the "Anugerah Sekolah Harapan Negara" actually have similarities or is explained by the framework of this study,3)compare the differences between the characteristics of the more effective and the less effective schools. The data was obtained through interviews and observations using a framework that was adapted from Mortimore (1995), which is a review of school effectiveness research conducted in the United States and Europe. This is comprehensive model which involves every level in a school. Considering the purpose and goal for this study, the method for data collection is a qualitative method through interviews, researcher's own observation and the study of relevant school documents. Four rural primary schools were selected as samples for the study. The selected samples consist of two primary schools that have won the titles of "Sekolah Harapan Negara" for the category of rural schools while the other two are less effective schools in the same category. All four schools are situated in two northern states of Peninsular Malaysia. The findings of this study suggested that there are seven characteristics that are prevalent in both effective schools. The characteristics are; 1) shared instructional leadership, 2) a learning environment, 3) concentration on teaching and learning, 4) high expectation for students, 5) positive reinforcement, 6) providing pupil rights and responsibilities, and 7) home-school partnership. The findings concluded that all the dimensions in Mortimore (1995) indeed exist in the sample schools. Furthermore, the study also suggested that the winners of "Anugerah Sekolah Harapan Negara" possess similar characteristics to the effective schools at international level