What does a healthy school look like?
Across Malaysia, schools are reimagining what student wellbeing can look like, creating programmes that build confidence, foster inclusion, promote sustainability and equip young people with skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
These inspiring efforts were celebrated at the AIA Healthiest Schools (AHS) Awards Ceremony, with AIA Malaysia honouring 18 primary and secondary schools for pioneering initiatives that are making a meaningful difference within their school communities.
Among the projects that stood out were Sekolah Kebangsaan Manir's Sihat Aktif Manirian (S.A.M.) initiative and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sanglang's Harumanis Mango Cultivation Project, two very different approaches in empowering students beyond the classroom.
The awards ceremony marked the culmination of the third edition of the AHS competition, held from October 2025 to March 2026. This year's competition attracted more than 140 submissions from government, private and international schools nationwide, more than double the number received in 2025, reflecting growing awareness of and commitment to student wellbeing.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, AIA Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Heng Zee Wang said that the AIA Healthiest Schools programme has become one of the company’s most inspiring community initiatives that empowers students to take charge of their wellbeing.
“At AIA, our purpose is to help people live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives. It is especially encouraging to see healthy habits being embedded into everyday school life – not as one-off efforts, but as part of how students learn, interact and grow.”
“We are proud that the programme continues to inspire creativity, teamwork and purpose-driven initiatives that deliver meaningful and sustainable benefits to school communities.”
This year also marked a milestone with the first winning entry from an SJK(T) school alongside recognition for a school in Sabah, signaling the programme's broader, more inclusive nationwide reach.
Winners were assessed based on project innovation, execution, community engagement, measurable impact and long-term sustainability. A total of USD100,000 (approximately RM450,000) in prize money was awarded across the Winner and Highly Commended categories for primary and secondary school levels.
An outdoor classroom for special education students
Earning first place in the secondary school category, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sanglang in Perlis impressed judges with its Harumanis Mango Cultivation Project.
Led by students from the school's Special Education Integration Programme (PPKI), the project takes them through every stage of cultivating the Harumanis mango, from planting and caring for the trees to harvesting and packaging the fruit.
SMK Sanglang's Principal, Sharudin Mahmud said the mango orchard has also become an outdoor classroom, where lessons extend far beyond farming.
“Just like an outdoor laboratory, we have various types of data that students can collect and analyse. This is engaging for students, as a traditional classroom setting can be mundane, especially for those with special needs,” he said.
The benefits of the project extend well beyond agricultural skills. Sharudin said the initiative has had a noticeable impact on students' confidence, emotional wellbeing and engagement in school.
“When they take part in a project like this, we see them becoming more cheerful, and their school attendance also improves. They are able to follow instructions and take responsibility for the plants. This gives them a sense of purpose, making them more enthusiastic and better able to regulate their emotions," he said.
By nurturing both personal growth and practical abilities, the project prepares students for life beyond the classroom. The vocational skills they acquire not only foster greater independence but also create pathways to future employment in agriculture and related fields.
Badges that build better habits
In the primary school category, Sekolah Kebangsaan Manir in Terengganu emerged as the winner with its Sihat Aktif Manirian (S.A.M.) initiative.
Recognising that more children were developing towards unhealthy eating habits and increasingly sedentary lifestyles, the school set out to make wellbeing both measurable and fun.
Through its S.A.M initiative, they encourage the pupils to track simple daily habits, from the amount of water they drink to the number of hours they sleep, while earning badges such as Raja Air (Water King), Raja Buah (Fruit King) and other creative badges, turning healthy habits into rewards they are proud to achieve.
Project leader and teacher of SK Manir, Zuraidah Hassim said the initiative was designed to show children that good health is built through consistent daily choices rather than drastic changes.
“By tracking simple indicators such as water consumption, sleep duration, exercise routine and others, they learn to take responsibility for their health. The data also helps us identify areas where students may need additional support,” she said.
She added that the AIA Healthiest Schools programme gave the school a strong foundation to build on, providing modules, coaching and practical ideas that were then tailored to suit the needs of SK Manir.
The badge system proved to be one of the project’s biggest successes. As students participated to earn recognition, healthy choices gradually became part of their daily routine, showing that a little encouragement can go a long way in changing behaviour.
Both of the winning schools will go on to represent Malaysia at the AlA Healthiest Schools Regional Awards scheduled to take place this July in Bangkok, Thailand. They will compete alongside winning schools from eight other AlA markets: China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Sri Lanka.
With submissions for the fourth edition of the AIA Healthiest Schools Competition set to open in October 2026, interested schools can learn more about the programme and access supporting teaching materials through the AIA Healthiest Schools Programme website.
