Malaysian Economy
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
Professor Dr. Ahmad Bin Othman
School of Business and Management
University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS)
96000 Sibu, Sarawak
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Today’s Agenda (Week #7)
Education and human capital formation
Malaysia’s education system in historical perspective
Financing education
Expansion in education: meeting quantitative targets
Quality issues in education
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History of Education System
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Basic Facts
Malaysia’s education system – predominantly State controlled and financed.
The school system – 6-3-2-2
Education policy – based on 1956 Razak Report. It called for state controlled,
financed and unified with a common national curriculum.
University and University College Act 1971, Amendments to AUKU 1995. Private
Higher Education Institutions Act 1996
Education Act 1995 – aimed to enhance all round quality education
2004 MoHE was established to direct and regulate public and private higher
education system
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Pre-school Education
Primary Education (6)
Lower Secondary Education (3)
Upper Secondary Education (2)
Post-secondary Education (2)
UPSR Examination
PMR Examination
SPM Examination
STPM Examination
The 6-3-2-2 System
EDUCATION
Pre-School
Attendance in a pre-school program is not universal and
generally only affluent families can afford to send their
children to private, for-profit pre-schools.
Primary Education
There are two main types of public primary schools in Malaysia: national
(Sekolah Kebangsaan in Malay, abbreviated as SK) and national-type
(Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan, abbreviated as SJK).
National-type schools are further divided into Chinese national-type
schools (Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina, SJK(C)) and Tamil national-type
schools (Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil, SJK(T)).
Primary education begins at the age of 7 and ends at 12. Students are
promoted to the next year regardless of their academic performance
(poor curriculum induced).
By degree of government funding, national schools are government-
operated, while national-type schools are mostly government-assisted,
though some are government-operated.
Primary education consists of six years of education, referred to as Year 1
to Year 6 (also known as Standard 1 to Standard 6). Year 1 to Year 3 are
classified as Level One (Tahap Satu) while Year 4 to Year 6 are considered
as Level Two (Tahap Dua).
From 1996 until 2000, the Penilaian Tahap Satu (PTS) or the Level One
Evaluation was administered to Year 3 students. Excellence in this test
allowed students to skip Year 4 and attend Year 5 instead.
Secondary Education
Secondary education in Malaysia is conducted in secondary schools
(Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan) for five years.
National secondary schools use Malay as the main medium of
instruction.
• The only exceptions are the Mathematics and Science subjects as well
as languages other than Malay, however this was only implemented in
the year 2003.
Malaysian national secondary schools are sub-
divided into several types:
1. National Secondary School (Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan)
2. Religious Secondary School (Sekolah Menengah Agama)
3. National-Type Secondary School (Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan)
4. Technical Schools (Sekolah Menengah Teknik)
5. Residential Schools and MARA Junior Science College (Maktab Rendah Sains
MARA).
Pre-University
After the SPM, students from public secondary school would have a
choice of either studying Form 6 or the matriculation (pre-university). If
they are accepted to continue studying in Form 6, they will also take the
Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (which is usually abbreviated as STPM)
or Malaysian Higher School Certificate examination
Form 6 consists of two years of study
1. Lower 6 (Tingkatan Enam Rendah)
2. Upper 6 (Tingkatan Enam Atas)
• Although it is generally taken by those desiring to attend public
universities in Malaysia, it is internationally recognised and may also
be used, though rarely required, to enter private local universities for
undergraduate courses.
Tertiary education
Tertiary Eduication is heavily subsidised by the government. Applicants
to public universities must have completed the Malaysia matriculation
programme or have an STPM grade. Excellence in these examinations
does not guarantee a place in a public university.
The classification of tertiary education in Malaysia is
organised upon the Malaysian Qualifications Framework
(MQF) which seeks to set up a unified system of post
secondary qualifications offered on a national basis both in
the vocational as well as higher educational sectors.
Some foreign universities and colleges have also set up branch campuses in Malaysia, including:
Monash University, Australia.
The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
SAE Institute, Australia
Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
Curtin University of Technology, Australia
Raffles Design Institute, Singapore
Postgraduate programmes
Postgraduate degrees such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA)
and the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) are becoming popular
and are offered by both the public universities and the private colleges.
All public and most private universities in Malaysia offer Master of Science
degrees either through coursework or research and Doctor of Philosophy
degrees through research.
Vocational programmes and polytechnics schools
Besides the university degrees, students also have the option of continuing
their education in professional courses such as the courses offered by the
ICSA (Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators) etc.
Polytechnics in Malaysia provide courses for diploma level (3 years) and
certificate level (2 years).
Other types of Schools
Islamic religious schools
Chinese independent high schools
International schools
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CIRI UTAMA PROGRAM
•Syarat Kemasukan Am :
• Guna CGPA 2.00 (Selepas Semester 4)
• Syarat2 khusus Insaniah (20%),
Vokasional (80%)
•Elemen PBE, SE dan OJT
•Kemahiran kebolehkerjaan/Employability
Skills
CIRI UTAMA PROGRAM :
Selepas tamat tahun 2, LP akan anugerah
Sijil Vokasional Malaysia (SVM) kepada
semua pelajar.
• LP iktiraf setara dengan SPM (B.Melayu)
• 5 M/Pelajaran Akademik lain
• Modul-Modul Vokasional
• Modul Employability Skills
• Akademik (30 %) Vokasional (70 %)
Tahap sijil yang diperolehi menentukan
sama ada pelajar layak ke program diploma
atau program Kemahiran yang lebih tinggi
SIJIL VOKASIONAL
MALAYSIA MENJADI
SYARAT KEMASUKAN
DIPLOMA VOKASIONAL
MALAYSIA
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TABLE 1
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF THE
LABOUR FORCE, 1990-2000
‘000 persons)(
2000 %Level of Education 1990 %
Primary 2,380.2 33.8 2,607.9 27.4
Lower & Middle Secondary 4,042.1 57.4 5,571.8 58.7
Tertiary 619.7 8.8 1,319.3 13.9
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PROFILE OF LABOUR FORCE, 1990-2010
‘000 persons
% 2000 % 2010 %1990
12,939.6Total Labour Force 7,042.0 9,572.5
Age Distribution 100.0 100.0 100.0
15-24 2,014.0 28.6 2,498.3 26.1 3,112.2 24.1
25-34 2,204.1 31.3 2,979.2 31.1 4,118.9 31.8
2,436.535-54 34.6 3,611.3 37.7 4,995.5 38.6
387.455-64 5.5 483.7 5.1 713.1 5.5
Educational Structure 100.0 100.0 100.0
Primary 2,380.2 33.8 2,604.3 27.2 1,643.3 12.7
Lower & Middle Secondary 4,042.1 57.4 5,624.5 58.8 6,767.4 52.3
Tertiary 619.7 8.8 1,343.7 14.0 4,528.9 35.0
Labour Force Participation Rate 65.3 65.5 68.1(%)
Male 85.6 85.4 86.4
Female 44.1 44.5 49.0
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Emphasis on Maths and Science
In 1967, Higher Education Planning Commission emphasized the critical importance of
Science and technology education at tertiary level
Therefore – set long-term targets
1. Higher education to have enrolment ration – 60% arts & 40% science
2. 20% of relevant age group to be provided with facilities for HE.
Later – the target changed – 40% arts & 60% science
Achievement – 2000, 27.7% science
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The Malaysia Qualification Agency (MQA) was established in 2007 – to ensure academic
standards and teaching quality.
Malaysian Qualifications Framework was introduced consisting of eight levels –
Level 1 – 3 = Skills certificates
Level 4 – Diploma
Level 5 – Advanced diploma
Level 6 – Bachelor degree and Graduate certificate & graduate diploma
Level 7 – Master degree and Postgraduate certificate & postgraduate diploma
Level 8 – Doctoral degree
Malaysian Qualifications Framework
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MQF
Levels
Sectors
Lifelong
LearningSkills Vocational and
Technical
Higher
Education
8 Doctoral Degree
7
Masters Degree
Postgraduate
Certificate &
Diploma
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Bachelor Degree
Graduate
Certificate &
Diploma
5 Advanced
Diploma
Advanced
Diploma
Advanced
Diploma
4 Diploma Diploma Diploma
3 Skills Certificate
3
Vocational and
Technical
Certificate
Certificate
2 Skills Certificate
2
1 Skills Certificate
1
Accre
dit
ati
on
of
Pri
or
Ex
peri
en
tial
Learn
ing
(A
PEL)
Malaysian Qualifications Framework
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MQF Levels Qualifications Minimum Credits
8 Doctoral No given credit value
7
Research Masters No given credit value
Fully or Partly Taught Masters 40
Postgraduate Diploma 30
Postgraduate Certificate 20
6
Bachelors 120
Graduate Diploma 60
Graduate Certificate 30
5 Advanced Diploma 40
4 Diploma 90
1-3
Certificate 60
Skills Certificate According to skills and levels
Malaysian Qualifications Framework
Financing Education
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Financing Education
Country Public expenditure on
education as a
percentage of GDP
(1)
Public expenditure on
education as a
percentage of total
public expenditure
(2)
Public expenditure on
tertiary education per
student as a
percentage of GDP per
capital
(3)
Public expenditure on
tertiary education as a
percentage of total
public expenditure on
education
(4)
Malaysia 6.0 25.2 81.1 37.6
China 3.9 - 26.8 -
India 3.0 10.7 90.8 19.6
Indonesia 3.5 17.5 - -
South Korea 3.1 - 5.5 -
Philippines 2.5 15.2 15.4 13.3
Singapore 3.1 - 34.1 -
Thailand 4.0 20.9 36.0 17.9
Vietnam 2.9 - - -
Table 1: Public expenditure on education, 2005-2008
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Level Seventh plan
1996-2000
Eighth plan
2001-2005
Ninth plan
2006-2010
Percentage change
7P-8P 8P-9P
Primary 2,739 5,585 5,645 +103.9 +1.1
Secondary 5,318 8,748 6,793 +64.5 +22.4
Tertiary 5,005 13,404 16,069 +167.8 +19.9
Other 4,480 10,185 11,849 +127.3 +16.3
Total 17,542 37,922 40,356 +116.2 +6.4
Table 2: Development Expenditure for Education (RM Million)
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TABLE 2
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE IN EDUCATION ANDTERTIARY ENROLMENT IN SELECTED COUNTRIES
(% )
CountryPublic Expenditure on
Education 1996Tertiary Enrolment (of population 20-
24 years, 1993
Australia 5.5 42Canada 6.9 103China 2.3 4India 3.2 6Ireland 6.0 34Japan 3.6 30South Korea 3.7 48Malaysia 255.2New Zealand 587.3Singapore 3.0 38United Kingdom 5.3 37United States 5.4 81
Source: The World Competitiveness Yearbook, 1998, 2000
Note: 1 Refers to year 2000 and age cohort 17-23 years.
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TABLE 3
PUBLIC SECTOR R&D EXPENDITURE AND NUMBER OFSCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS FOR SELECTED COUNTRIES
R&D Expenditure Scientists and Engineers(% of GDP ) (per million population )
1998 1985-1995
Australia 1.7 3,166Canada 1.6 2,656China 0.7 350India 0.7 149Ireland 1.5 1,871Japan 2.9 6,309South Korea 2.7 2,636Malaysia 0.4 5001
New Zealand 1.0 1,778Singapore 1.8 2,728United Kingdom 1.9 2,417United States 2.5 3,732
Sources : The World Competitiveness Yearbook, 2000World Development Report, 1999/2000
Note: 1 Refers to preliminary figures for year 1998
Country
Thank You
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