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

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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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