Malaysian Public Education System

What Is The Public Education System Like In Malaysia?

Well, for my experience at least :)

I was born into an interracial household, my mom being Filipino and my dad, a Malaysian. Nevertheless, I experienced the education which most Malaysians do. I went to a public school. 

I moved to Johor Bahru when I was a toddler at around the age of 1 and lived in a company's quarters. Life was not easy as I wasn't exactly born into an average family since my family was heavily indebted by credit cards due to frivolous expenditure. 

With that being said, I never had the opportunity to learn any musical instruments like most do at a young age. I missed my chance at learning the ballet and swimming. Themeparks were expensive, even travelling to visit my grandparents and extended family in the Philippines was expensive. 

However, things took a toll at the age of 11 when we moved out of our then location of company's quarters to a different location. We were blessed as our life began to improve and our debts were cleared. (But that's a story for another time.)

So, back to the topic. What is the public education system like in Malaysia?

1. The education system here is divided into Primary school and Secondary school.

- There is no division of elementary, middle school or high school. 

- In a local primary school, there are 6 years in total while in secondary school, there are 5 years in total. However, if a student chooses to complete their pre-university programme in secondary school, it would be 7 years in total.

2. What are the examination levels like?

- In primary school, at the end of the sixth year, the students are required to sit for their Primary School Achievement Test known as UPSR (Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah).

- In secondary school, most students complete their 5 years there and complete their pre-university programme in college. 

   - At the end of their third year, the students are required to sit for their Lower Secondary Assessment formally known as PMR. However, it was abolished in 2014 and replaced with PT3.

    - At the end of their fifth year, the students are required to sit for their Malaysian Certificate of Education otherwise known as SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia).

     - Those who choose to complete their pre-university programme in secondary school, their sixth year is then divided into 2 years : Lower six and Upper six. The students will then sit for another examination known as Malaysian Higher School Certificate otherwise known as STPM (Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia). 

3. What are the languages learnt in school?

- The mutual language that every student learns when they study in a public school is Bahasa Malaysia (The Malaysian Language) and Bahasa Inggeris (The English Language).

- Be it the national public schools (normal public schools) or the vernacular schools, every student is required to learn Bahasa Malaysia and English. :)

4. What is the difference between the vernacular schools and normal public schools? 

- The vernacular schools currently available in the peninsular region are Tamil vernacular schools and Mandarin vernacular schools.

- Tamil vernacular schools are only available in primary level while the Mandarin vernacular schools are available in both primary and secondary level.

- In Tamil vernacular schools, Tamil language is used as the primary medium and the same goes for Mandarin vernacular schools whereby Mandarin is used as the primary medium.

- However, they are not exempted from learning Bahasa Malaysia and English. Thus being said, they will learn 3 languages. 

5. School fees and textbooks?

- As of school fees, every beginning of the year the students are required to pay a certain amount, usually not more than RM200. 

- As of textbooks, it is loaned to the students by the school. So, they do not have to buy it. At the end of each year, they would return it and receive the textbooks for the following year. 

- However, textbooks are not provided for those completing their pre-university program in secondary school. They have to obtain it themselves. 

Those are just a few points that I've listed out about the Malaysian public education system. It is actually vast with a variety of subjects to choose from. 

I went to a national public primary school, S.K (P) Sultan Ibrahim otherwise known as Sultan Ibrahim Girls' School. (I took up English and Bahasa Malaysia.) 

When I went to secondary school, I went to SMK I.J. Convent, J.B. where English is commonly spoken. 

And I chose to do my pre-university program in secondary school. I completed it  in SMK (P) Sultan Ibrahim (Sultan Ibrahim Girls' School).

Do I think the Malaysian education system is good?

Being brought up in a not so well-off family, personally I think it is good.

The students aren't deprive of both the English and Bahasa Malaysia knowledge as it is heavily incorporated in the subjects in school.

The fees aren't expensive and the students are still able to apply for both local and international scholarships.

In terms of extracurricular, that is based solely on the school as different schools offer different sets of extracurricular activities.

However, the education system is constantly being revised and improvised to meet the modern criteria of worldwide education system. The syllabus and the examinations that I've sat during my time were different compared to the ones now. 

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Disclaimer: The said article was based solely on my opinion and experiences. It was not meant in any way to criticise the public education system of Malaysia but merely providing information on the writer's experience. It may vary upon individuals.

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READ MORE: Learn The Malaysian Language (Bahasa Malaysia)

 
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