Not every child fit inside a classroom.
And when the system couldn’t stretch, she chose to build something new.
Instead of watching students fall through the cracks, she created one of Malaysia’s earliest
structured online schooling models designed to support students through live classes,
academic accountability, and personalised guidance.
This is the story of IR Academy, and the educator who refused to let students be defined by a
system that wasn’t built for their reality.
It Started with Service, Not Strategy
Long before launching an online schooling platform for Malaysian expats, she was just a university student trying to help.
While studying at the University of Malaya (UM), she spent her days volunteering teaching underprivileged kids at PPR Seri Cempaka and participated initiatives like Project Yusof.
No investors. No business plan. Just commitment.
And somewhere between lesson plans and late-night prep, one truth became clear:
Teaching wasn’t just something she did.
It was who she was.
Education had always been part of her world. She grew up around her family’s tuition centre,
Pusat Tuisyen Infikaffe, in a small town in Taman Bukit Kempas. Classrooms were familiar territory but what she would eventually build went beyond a physical space.
Meet “Tasha Laoshi”
Her students gave her the nickname.
Teaching Bahasa Melayu and History to students from Chinese vernacular schools (SMJKC), she broke language barriers using English as the bridge.
She made tough subjects feel human. That’s when she noticed something strange.
Some of her brightest students… weren’t in school.
Athletes training full-time.
Families relocating overseas.
Students whose medical or personal circumstances limited their ability to attend physical
School.
They had ability.
They had ambition.
But they lacked a structured schooling system that could adapt to their reality.
“It’s either school or tuition,” she realized.
“But what about the students who can’t do either?”
That gap?
She decided to fill it.
That gap became her mission.
IR Academy: Alternative Education Malaysia Needed
In 2019, she began building what would officially become IR Academy in 2021 at a time when
structured online schooling was still unfamiliar in Malaysia.
IR Academy was never meant to replace physical schools.
It was designed as a full online schooling alternative for students who could not thrive in
traditional settings.
Today, the academy supports:
- Malaysian expatriate families who want their children to follow the national syllabus while living abroad
- Students with medical needs or personal challenges that limit physical school attanedance
- Learners preparing for IGCSE and SPM through structured online schooling
This isn’t casual online tuition.
IR Academy operates with a disciplined academic framework of live online classes,
assessments, academic reports, clear expectations, and a dedicated team of
subject specialist teachers.
It delivers the accountability of a school without physical walls.
For many families, it’s not just convenient.
It’s necessary.
The Story That Reflects the Impact
One student joined IR Academy after struggling for years to cope in a traditional school
environment.
Through a structured and supportive online schooling system, she gradually rebuilt her
confidence and academic consistency.
In 2024, she sat for the SPM examinations and achieve with flying colours.
Today, she continues her studies at one of Malaysia’s top universities actively engaged in
campus life and learning independently.
At IR Academy, progress isn’t measured by grades alone.
It’s measured by readiness, confidence, and the ability to move forward.
When students are ready to return to physical schools, the academy supports that transition
fully.
Because success was never about retention.
It was always about recovery and growth.
Education Without Borders
The vision is bold.
To become the go to Malaysian Expatriate School without borders.
A trusted hub for structured alternative education in Malaysia especially for families overseas and students navigating mental health challenges.
In a world where education systems are still catching up to digital reality, IR Academy is already there.
Compassionate. Structured. Modern. This isn’t just an online class platform.
It’s proof that when one founder chooses courage over comfort, students get a second chance.
Education has no boundaries. And neither does impact.
If you believe every child deserves a system that sees them, maybe it’s time we rethink what “school” really means.
