PERANAN INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS (NAZIR SEKOLAH) DALAM MENINGKATKAN MUTU PENDIDIKAN DI NEGERI PERAK, 1890-1900

Abstract

This article discusses the welfare strategy that was implemented by Inspector of Schools in improving the quality of education in the state of Perak during the period between the year 1890 to 1900. In this context, the welfare strategy refers to the approach employed by Inspector of Schools in the effort to improve the quality of education in the state of Perak, which is by winning the hearts of teachers, students and parents. The welfare strategy that was implemented by H.B. Collinge as the Inspector of Schools in Perak covers various aspects like raising teachers’ salary, introducing retirement scheme and effective teaching methods, establishing Malay Teaching College specifically for Malay teachers and etc. This study’s research question will explore the extent to which the welfare strategy employed by Collinge had let to great impact on the direction of English and Malay vernacular education in that state. Overall, the welfare strategy that was implemented by Collinge succeeded in developing the education system in the Perak state. This was clearly observed through the increase in students enrollment and in the number of schools in the state that kept on rising on a daily basis. In fact, the strategy put forth by Collinge, which is to win the hearts of teachers through incentives like pay raise and promotions motivated them to continue serving with excellence. Besides that, the softcore welfare strategy were also able to encourage parents to send their children to school without being forced to.