Overview of the General Education System

The educational structure of Malaysia has shown an impressive transition from being rooted in colonial times to becoming a modern global system. The education system was divided based on ethnicity under British colonial rule. Malay institutions focused on education and agriculture, while the Chinese and Tamil institutions emphasized trade and their native languages. This led to the establishment of parallel systems that continued after independence. Post-independence reforms started with the Razak Report (1956), were attempts to unite communities around a common language, Bahasa Melayu, and expand opportunities for all, while the New Economic Policy (1971) was designed to address socio-economic inequalities. Subsequently, the National Education Philosophy (1988; revised 1996) reflected an educational vision of holistic development by ensuring the pursuit of intellectual, spiritual, human and physical growth. Recent initiatives, including the Smart School Programme (1997), Education Development Master Plan (2006–2010) and Malaysia Education Blueprint (2013–2025), have further demonstrated the country’s pursuit toward innovation, equity and global competitiveness. Malaysia also aims for inclusivity and excellence as it adapts to global demands, with initiatives such as Dual Language Programme (2016). here are challenges ahead in terms of quality, integration and addressing diverse needs but Malaysia’s education system has shown remarkable progress of responding to national priorities as well as international demands.

Two ministries govern the Malaysian education system: the Ministry of Education (MOE) which governs preschool education through secondary education and Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) which controls colleges and universities. Malaysia Qualifications Agency (MQA) ensures the quality and certification of all educational programs within the Malaysian Qualification Framework. There are various examination bodies which conduct major examinations, such as the Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia (MPM) which conducts Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (Malaysian Higher School Certificate). Collectively, these agencies present a systematic framework that presides over education from early childhood up to university levels while keeping national priorities in alignment to global competitiveness.

Preschool (ages 4–6) is optional and offered by public, private, as well as community providers, while six years of primary education (ages 7–12) is mandatory and based on the KSSR curriculum. Secondary education has two stages, lower secondary education from Forms 1 to Form 3, and then upper secondary education from Form 4 to Form 5 ending up with the SPM exam, acting as a link for higher education through universities, polytechnic, and community colleges.