Shahnaz Al-Sadat, Chairperson of LeapEd Services Sdn Bhd, has been recognized as one of the ten finalists for the inaugural Asia Education Medal. Established this year by T4 Education and HP, this new award honors an exceptional individual who has shown significant impact, leadership, and advocacy in the education sector.
The Asia Education Medal honors the relentless efforts of individuals transforming education across the continent, celebrating those who have ignited the spark of change and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. This award is presented to an exceptional individual who has demonstrated significant impact, leadership, and advocacy in the field of education.
The winner of the Asia Education Medal will be invited to attend the World Schools Summit in Dubai on 23-24 November and, in recognition of the urgent need to solve the teacher recruitment and retention crisis to tackle learning gaps, the winner will be entitled to nominate a school of their choice to receive membership of T4 Education’s Best School to Work programme – an independent, evidence-based mechanism to certify schools for their culture and help them transform their working environment to attract and retain the best teachers.
Shahnaz Al-Sadat is Chairperson of LeapEd Services Sdn Bhd in Malaysia, an award-winning social enterprise and Malaysia’s first homegrown Education Service Provider, which undertakes education transformation programmes and projects that support the system, school leaders, teachers, students, parents, and the wider community.
At LeapEd Services, Shahnaz Al-Sadat has led the flagship Trust Schools Programme, partnering with the Malaysian government and CSR Foundations to improve schools in various settings, including rural, urban, religious, vernacular, and indigenous education. LeapEd's focus on holistic development has fostered the growth of essential life skills among students, equipping them to excel academically and develop the critical skills necessary for success in the 21st century.
LeapEd has reached more than 1,000 public schools and 200,000 students, representing 10% of the Malaysian school system which in turn, presents an opportunity to influence student outcomes throughout the whole system. For example, the Ministry of Education’s TS25 initiative covering all 10,000 schools, was shaped by LeapEd’s knowledge-sharing programme (PreSTasi), based on the Trust School model.
Shahnaz Al-Sadat’s organization has played a crucial role in empowering educators and school leaders. Through its professional development programs and mentoring initiatives, LeapEd provides educators with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to offer high-quality teaching and leadership, promoting a culture of genuine continuous improvement. Over a 3–5-year intervention period, School Leadership and Teaching competencies have improved by more than 60% from their baseline, elevating schools to a level that meets global standards. For instance, Trust School SK Kempadang was a Top 3 finalist for the World’s Best School Prize for Innovation in 2022.
Shahnaz Al-Sadat also co-founded Arise Asia, a social enterprise dedicated to implementing solutions that address social disparities through various projects. Additionally, she is a Founding Trustee of Teach for Malaysia, part of the Teach for All network. Her latest initiative is the pioneering launch of Malaysia’s first digital school, Sekolah Anak Malaysia (SAM Education). SAM aims to deliver quality education beyond borders, empowering every child with personalized digital learning that integrates Malaysian values with a global perspective.
