TAIPING: Educational institutions should introduce the country's Social Contract to the young generation, Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah said.

This would help them have a deeper understanding of the issue, thus ensuring harmony, peace and stability in the country, he said.

"I am proud that the firm stand made by the Malay rulers recently about the Social Contract was well-received and supported by various quarters," he said at the 25th excellence awards ceremony of Sekolah Menengah Sains Raja Tun Azlan Shah here yesterday.

Earlier, he observed that there was greater competition in global markets and that Malaysia's economy was being strengthened as it increased its competitiveness and explored new sources of growth.

"Our country needs individuals with first-class mindsets who are marketable. It is my hope that students of this school would be capable and travel far as experts in science and technology, becoming technocrats, entrepreneurs and committed pillars of society. Through education, we can bear our country's name to the whole world."

Sultan Azlan Shah also issued a reminder that one should regard acknowledgements as one of many steps in one's climb towards excellence.

"We should feel jealous at the achievements of others who are better than us."

On measuring the success of schools, he said quality should be given the utmost consideration.

"The discipline of students and the quality of teachers should be at the highest level of excellence," he said.

At yesterday's event, the school's senior principal, Rahimah Mohd Sura, said the school's key performance index for its students was that they scored all As in Penilaian Menengah Rendah and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examinations, competed in sports at international level and were free of misconduct.

Former wind orchestra conductor and librarian Muhammad Farid Nazer Muhammad Faruqu received the best student award for obtaining 10 A1s in his SPM last year.

Source: nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/2383240/Article/index_html