Research 10/06/2022

Choice, competition and the role of private providers in the Malaysian school system

By Tunku ’Abidin Muhriz, Afif Abdullah, Wan Saiful Wan Jan

Download in Bahasa

Download now

This project aimed to examine whether or not choice and competition exist in the Malaysian system, to describe models that utilise market competition, and to explore how choice and competition can be strengthened.

The five key research questions asked if choice and competition exist; whether there are any barriers to greater choice and competition; what models currently exist; what can be learned from the various models; and how Malaysia can bring more choice and competition into the school system.

A brief overview of the Malaysian education system is provided, detailing the origins of national schools, English national schools, religious schools in the guise of sekolah pondok and madrasah, vernacular and national type schools. The impact of subsequent legislation is considered as well, up until the most recent policy announcements. All of this is placed into a timeline for easy reference. We then discuss what we learned from the literature review and members of the advisory group, addressing each of the key research questions in turn.

We conclude that Malaysian literature advocating choice and competition is limited because central planning has been allowed to become the natural state of affairs when it comes to education in the country; but that this situation is changing. In practice, there has been choice and competition through the existence of many different types of educational establishments, but a desire to protect that sphere (and a realisation of greater choice in the past) is leading to more civil society awareness.

We recommend that the merits of choice and competition be injected into mainstream thinking on Malaysian policymaking in education through lobbying, while noting the challenges of ethnic, religious and class differences in Malaysian society. We call upon political parties to decentralise power to schools themselves and we recommend that civil society actors be strengthened.

Downloads

Choice, competition and the role of private providers in the Malaysian school system (English)

Download now

Choice, competition and the role of private providers in the Malaysian school system (Bahasa)

Download in Bahasa

Related Content

Cambodia Girls Education Listing (960 X 540 Px) (1)

Research

Examining improvements to girls’ education in Cambodia through a gender-responsive lens

The Cambodian government has been successful in raising girls’ enrolment and academic achievement in recent years, with girls’ enrolment reaching 100% in 2021 and girls outperforming boys in reading, writing and mathematics at Grade 5 level. While this is hugely encouraging for girls’ education in the country, these statistics alone do not help us to understand the extent to which gender imbalances are being addressed and improved within the classroom.

Research

Examining improvements to girls’ education in Cambodia through a gender-responsive lens

Article

EDT partners with Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) to conduct inspections for 64 private schools

On Wednesday 24th January 2024, EDT's CEO Dan Sandhu and Education Director Tony McAleavy were delighted to meet with His Excellency Mr Ali Al Hosani, Director of Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA), at the Bett education technology exhibition in London. EDT will be conducting inspections for 64 private schools in the emirate of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, on behalf of SPEA.

Global Refugee Forum Listing (960 X 540 Px)

Article

EDT presents findings on refugee teacher professional development at the Global Refugee Forum 2023

EDT is proud to have presented findings on the professional development of teachers of refugees, and formally pledged support for refugee learners and their teachers around the world, at the Global Refugee Forum between 13th and 15th December 2023.