Doha: Wan Harriz Wan Abdul Qayyum, a Year Four student at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tasek, part of the Sekolah Rintis Bangsa Johor (SRBJ) initiative, has emerged victorious in the 'Play-Off Qualifier Hippo English Without Borders 2026' competition held in Doha, Qatar.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, this achievement has secured Wan Harriz a spot in the global finals set to take place in Spoleto, Italy, in October. The success is a testament to the SRBJ's Core 1, which emphasizes English Language proficiency, aiming to produce students excelling academically, while possessing confidence, communication skills, and the ability to compete at an international level.

State Education and Information Committee Chairman Dr. Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali highlighted that the student's accomplishment aligns with SRBJ's objective of nurturing well-rounded individuals. "This achievement aligns with SRBJ's Core 1-English Language Proficiency-reinforcing the initiative's aspiration to produce students who are not only academically excellent but also confident, skilled communicators, and capable of competing at an international level," he stated in a recent announcement.

The international English competition saw participation from over 90,000 contestants aged between six and 19, hailing from more than 70 countries. Dr. Muhammad Naqib also noted another remarkable feat by Johor's Aaron Yung Wayze from Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Sin Hwa, who won the Asia-Pacific Continental Round of the 14th Hippo English Without Borders competition in Phuket, Thailand, earlier in July.

The SRBJ initiative, championed by the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, aims to empower the state's education system, fostering a holistic and competitive generation of 'Bangsa Johor'.