Despite his stature as group executive chairman of Taylor’s Education Group, Dato’ Loy Teik Ngan speaks about renewal with humility and self-awareness. He likens it to “a new shedding of skin”, a recurring cycle where failures become moments of reassessment. “I make mistakes all the time. Every time I have setbacks, it’s an opportunity for me to evaluate, re-evaluate, to learn and, sometimes, to unlearn things,” he says, emerging each time with renewed energy and optimism.
More driven than ever, Loy is spearheading a new era at Garden International School (GIS) in Mont Kiara through the GIS Campus Reimagined project, introducing transformative upgrades in honour of the school’s 75th anniversary. Phase 1 unveiled the launch of a RM100 million, five-level Sports Complex spanning 200,000 sq ft, complete with an Olympic-size swimming pool, two full-length indoor basketball courts, two tennis courts, a FIFA-standard youth football field, and a fully equipped gym. Plans are already underway for Phase 2, which will see an RM85 million Performing Arts Centre added to the campus.
“It is a redesign of the school’s campus that we hope will enable it to become the best place to study. Beyond academics, it’s about the extracurricular activities, how lessons are approached, and how parents and students are served by our staff and teachers. Facilities play a big role, and they are often the first thing parents notice before enrolling their children, as it sets an initial impression of the school,” Loy says. “At GIS, the facilities and buildings no longer reflected the school’s reputation. It deserved better. Now is the time for a complete facelift—one that will enable the school to achieve far more than it currently can.”
Schools have been making news headlines recently, for better or for worse. How will Taylor’s Education Group reshape this discourse and set a new benchmark for school campuses?
The school campus is just one component of what a good school truly requires. To focus on it in isolation would be missing the point. Education can happen anywhere, whether it’s under a tree or with just chalk and a blackboard in less privileged countries. We are fortunate to be in Kuala Lumpur, in the right location, where we can build something appropriate and relevant to our community. Being relevant means understanding the needs of parents, students, and teachers—and designing the campus around that.
What do you think schools often get wrong today?
There are two things schools really need to get right. First, schools should help students feel confident. Confidence is almost a prerequisite for learning. When we learn, we forget, and we have to relearn. It takes courage to explore areas we’re uncomfortable with and, as students get older, the subjects get more challenging. Having confidence that they can acquire knowledge is essential. Second, schools must help students make friends.
In moments of extreme pressure, what inner sources do you rely on to stay grounded?
At 64, there are a few simple lessons life has taught me that I try to hold on to. First, tough times never last, but tough people do. Second, the way we see things is only our perspective—it may or may not be accurate. Third, failures are good. They are the mothers of success, and they humble us. If we think we know everything, there’s nothing left to learn. Failure gives us a dose of reality, reminding us that we’re not always the best or the most capable. I don’t bask in glory too much.
What’s a rule you used to live by but secretly enjoy breaking now?
There isn’t really a rule I secretly enjoy breaking. When I set something for myself, I’m usually quite open about it. I tell people. That actually makes it more embarrassing if I don’t follow through, which is why I do it. Making my intentions public is a way of holding myself accountable. When I declare something openly, I put myself against a wall and make it much harder to back down.
What small, everyday joys or habits give you the most meaning today?
My grandchildren bring me the most joy. I get to spoil them without being responsible for the consequences. I can spoil them secretly, in hiding. I’ve also taken up pickleball, a game where I think I’ll be able to play well into old age. I enjoy solitude and slow mornings, especially with a cup of coffee. I also like to exercise, pray, journal, and listen to classical music.
What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
I think getting married is the most adventurous thing I’ve ever done because it completely changes your life. Suddenly, your life no longer belongs just to yourself. It belongs to your wife, then your children, and, eventually, your grandchildren. Marriage is an adventure in itself. Another big adventure was starting my first business. I was stepping into the unknown and hitting walls almost every month. Sometimes, I had to climb over them; if I couldn’t, I had to dig under.
If you could have dinner or drinks with anyone—living or historical—who would it be and why?
It would be meaningful to have a drink with Jesus. I’d want to understand how he decided which principles and values were important—ideas that have shaped moral thinking and even become laws in many countries. So much of that wisdom comes through the Bible’s parables and teachings.
Taylor’s Education Group | Garden International School
Photography by Anna-Rina
