Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bangsar (Integrasi): SMK Bangsar

Student development is affected by these four sources of influence, namely, student background, the organizational characteristics of the institution attended, social integration, and academic attainment (Keenan, Evans, & Crowley, 2016; Beckett & Taylor, 2016). Studies have indicated that students who participated in development programs tend to have higher levels of educational achievement and exhibit more positive personal change compared to students who do not participate in these programs at all (Frederick, Sasso, & Maldonado, 2017). Student development is, therefore, an integral aspect of a holistic education.

Success in school, and of course success in life, means more than just good examination results. It is of utmost importance that our students learn how to live and lead meaningful, productive and balanced lives in every aspect of their existence. In order to help our students understand the importance of finding meaning in life and to work towards a more satisfying and wholesome definition of success, SMK Bangsar aims to improve the personality and leadership development of the students through its various programs.

One such program is Persatuan Al-Hunafa's Titian Samara Program. Through its pilot project which was conducted in collaboration with 5 schools in Klang for 5 years (2008-2013) involving 200 students, the Titian Samara Program was able to bring about positive changes in the personality and leadership qualities of at least 25% of the students. Since this program has its focus on the the 2R, namely respect and responsibility, it can help to guide our students towards a caring society through the practice of love, care, and compassion in every aspect of their lives.

Persatuan Al-Hunafa's Titian Samara Program is one of the many non-profit community service programs of the Department of Social Administration and Justice, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University Malaya. Working in collaboration with the country's leading university, it is hoped that this program will enhance positive student engagement and motivation by transforming their lives with social and emotional learning. Needless to say, there is growing recognition around the world that schools must meet the social and emotional developmental needs of students for effective teaching and learning to take place and for students to reach their full potential (Brackett & Rivers, 2012). Nobel Laureate, James Heckman, has written that the greatest returns on education investments are “from nurturing children's non-cognitive skills, giving them social, emotional and behavioral benefits that lead to success later in life…” (Heckman & Masterov, 2004). Being concerned with the students' well-being and positive development, our school principal, Puan Hajah Noraizan Mohamed is very supportive of this program.

Our school principal, Puan Hajah Noraizan Mohamed

Puan Hajah Noraizan Mohamed believes that school principals play a pivotal role in improving student learning and attaining educational outcomes and must therefore deal effectively with the education challenges facing the students in the 21st century.

Glad to say that our students are very keen to attend the Titian Samara Program and some of them even keep asking me (Dr. Tai Soo Shong) when they will be visiting the old folks' homes (also another non-profit program of the Department of Social Administration and Justice, University Malaya). In a way, their eagerness to visit the old folks' homes also clearly indicated that the true essence of humankind is kindness and it is this kindness that helps our human race to develop inner happiness and peace. The photos which I took (below) clearly depict the first session of the program which commenced on 17 April 2018.