It’s not just about earning a degree but about enriching your ability to create an engaging and effective learning environment.
An MEd offers an insider’s perspective on education, from crafting effective curricula to identifying and retaining top- notch teachers.
With a deeper understanding of students’ needs and school operations, you will be better equipped to build strong partnerships and earn parents’ trust. Even if you’re not a teacher but run an education centre, an MEd can elevate your centre to industry leadership.
Wan Zakaria Wan Abu Bakar, Bizara Care Centre and Bizara Educare Centre founder and director exemplifies this. These centres support children with special needs in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.
“I was a high-performing teacher for 13 years before I started Bizara with a former student of mine, Wan Mohd Aiman Adli. He came up with the name, derived from the Arabic word bidzaro, which means to sow seeds. We aim to nurture young children, who are akin to seeds, especially those with special needs.”
Building Bizara
Founded in Selangor in 2018, Bizara offers customised pro- grammes for special needs children.
“We focused on educating those with dyslexia and develop- mental issues to master the 3Rs.
“We also provided a four-month programme for dyslexic SPM students and a nine-month post-SPM skills training in fine arts, photography and graphic design, so that they would have practical skills for future employment opportunities,” said Wan Zakaria.
Today, Bizara has grown from a team of five to 25 educators, serving 60 special needs children.
They have empowered over 150 children and equipped 250 parents with knowledge and strategies to enhance the development of their children with dyslexia, autism, Down syndrome, learning disorder or other developmental challenges.
Despite holding a bachelor’s degree in art and design, Wan Zakaria saw the value of advancing his education.
He pursued an MEd with a focus on school leadership at Open University Malaysia (OUM).
This decision, fuelled by the positive experiences of his friends who had studied there, proved invaluable.
The programme provided him with the capabilities to more effectively manage Bizara’s staff and operations.
“The MEd programme at OUM provided a structured and com- prehensive learning experience that directly benefitted my work and experience in this field.
“The programme director, lecturers and staff were incredibly supportive, and the online learning format perfectly suited my busy schedule,” he said.
Beyond the textbooks
Wan Zakaria’s master’s thesis on leadership within Bizara helped improve the educational centres.
“My thesis revolved around my leadership and Bizara’s approach and culture, so it motivated my team and me to upgrade our system, strategies and methodologies.
“It has also paved the way for me to consider conducting research on alternative special needs programmes for my PhD in the future,” he said.
For Wan Zakaria, obtaining the MEd allowed him to gain practical and theoretical knowledge that significantly enhanced his leadership role and day-to-day work.
Students can enrol in this OUM programme if they hold a bachelor’s degree, even if it is not in the education field.
Those who do not possess a bachelor’s degree but have extensive teaching experience can enrol through the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning – Access (APEL.A) entry, provided they meet the requirements.
These include being at least 30 years old, having another qualification like STPM, A-Levels or a diploma, relevant work experience, and passing the APEL.A assessment.
The part-time MEd programme is ideal for working adults. The study duration is two years (equivalent to six semesters), but some learners can extend their studies up to four years, depending on their needs.
The programme offers three options – Coursework with Master’s Project, Coursework with Concentration (Educational Management) and coursework with Concentration (School Leadership).
Among the courses offered are instructional technologies, educational psychology, curriculum development, comparative education, teaching strategies and school management.
Classes are fully online with resources available through a learning platform.
Each semester comprises 10 one-hour e-tutorial sessions on weekends or weekday evenings.
Besides online face-to-face sessions, students have access to modules, e-lessons and an online forum to interact with e-tutors and coursemates.
The first three semesters will include three courses per semester, but students can opt for two or three courses in their second year, based on their convenience.
Assessment methods are flexible and include a mix of assignments and final exams conducted online.
Fees are affordable and can be paid in instalments. OUM also offers discounts for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
According to MEd programme director Dr Vighnarajah, the programme is beneficial for educators aiming to advance their careers and deepen their understanding of diverse educational contexts, international trends and comparative educational systems.
■ For more inQformation, visit www.oum.edu.my, call 03-7801 2000, or email enquiries@oum.edu.my.
