Kuala Lampur, Sept. 24 -- As Malaysia edges closer to 2030, and with it, our ambitions of becoming a high-income, innovation-driven nation, one uncomfortable reality continues to obstruct our progress, education. Few would dispute that a major risk to the nation's future is a botched education system. And not many would deny that our education system reform needs bold, visionary leadership. It is still a struggle. For too long, education leadership in Malaysia has meant managing the status quo, not reimagining it. While policy documents and blueprints declare ambitions of digital classrooms, 21st-century skills, and globally competitive graduates, these aspirations often stall at the implementation stage.

Not because the ideas aren't sou...