Malaysia is a top education destination recognized for its superiority in offering free education on the primary and secondary level. It is the Ministry of Higher Education that supervises tertiary education ( ). Students who wish to further their studies at the tertiary level are required to have passed excellently with qualifying academic grades and also be in a position of financing their education. Additionally, post-secondary school scholars with SPM qualifications have the option of obtaining a pre-university qualification (such as the sixth form, matriculation programs and GCE ‘A’ levels). Alternatively, they may choose to study for a certificate or diploma at higher educational institutions. The time taken to complete a pre-university program depends on the type of program. Some of the top 5 public universities in Malaysia include Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) as well as Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).
Polytechnics and community colleges. In Malaysia, there are about 30 schools and 72 community colleges. The third category is the teacher education Institutes. In this category, there are about 27 Malaysian Institutes of Teacher Education.
Students pursuing higher education have multiple opportunities at their disposal. These opportunities include certificate, diploma, degrees as well as professional qualifications for post-graduates such as Masters and PhDs ( ). Higher education at the diploma level is availed for school leavers with a secondary school certificate such while enrolling in degree programs requires one to have post-secondary qualifications such as STPM, GCE A levels or other equivalent pre-university qualifications. Public as well as private universities and colleges are considerably significant in rendering higher education to both Malaysian and International students. Both institutions avail a whole extensive list of study options that review can take. Ideally, higher educational institutions offer programs that accord scholars the award of certificates, diplomas as well as postgraduates qualifications. Malaysian universities (both public and private), as well as colleges, can be categorized into two broad classifications:
Ø Public higher educational institutions (government funded), consist of public universities, polytechnics, community colleges. They constitute 60% of the schools.
Ø Private institutions of higher learning which include private universities and university colleges, foreign university branch campuses as well as private colleges. They constitute 40%.
Ø Public Higher Educational Institutions which mainly offer degrees, diplomas, and postgraduate programs. Polytechnics and community colleges also fall into this category. They offer certificate and degree level programs.
English is the medium of instruction in many of the higher educational institutions. However, most bachelor’s degree courses offered at public universities are taught in the national language, which is, Bahasa Malaysia, while postgraduate studies are usually taught in English. The Lembaga Peperiksaan (LP) administers several national tests. As from 2014, the government scrapped away the (Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) as a public examination and it will be replaced with a school-based assessment and PT3 system. After two years of upper secondary education, students sit for the standard public examination Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, (SPM) (also known as the Malaysian Certificate of Education). The SPM is the national examination taken by all Form 5 students and is equivalent to the IGCSE or O level ( ). Compulsory subjects include Bahasa Malaysia, English, Islamic Education (for Muslim students), moral studies (for non-Muslim students), history mathematics as well as science. Nevertheless, there are a couple of particular subjects examined. These topics are offered across the fields of arts and health, information and communication technology, languages and literature, technical and vocational studies, science and mathematics, social sciences as well as religion. Together with Bahasa Malaysia, it is required that for one to take history to pass one to pass SPM examination. That was in 2013. However, as from 2016, English was made a must-pass subject and students who fail in these tests do not receive a full SPM certificate.
Malaysia is also the home of international students as it warmly welcomes them to pursue education even at higher levels. Right from the 1990s, foreign scholars have been coming to Malaysia with one goal in mind: to pursue tertiary education in one of Malaysian university or colleges. Presently, Malaysia ranks 11th in popularity among the world’s famous international education destinations for higher education ( ). Ideally, Malaysian higher education levels are divided into pre-tertiary and tertiary education levels. Initially, there were two governing authorities: the pre-tertiary education sector which was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the higher education sector which was under the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). However, in May 2013, the two ministries were combined into one and named the Ministry of Education Malaysia (or Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia in Malay)
While the pre-tertiary MOE is composed of 9 sectors, the higher education phase consists of 9 departments including:
Ø The upper education phase consists of the following departments and regions:
Ø The Department of Higher Education (public higher education management sector and private higher education management sector)
Ø The Department of polytechnics education
Ø The department of community college education
Ø The upper school management sector
Ø The top education development sector
Ø Malaysian Qualifications Agency
Ø National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN)
Ø National Professor Council
Ø Higher Education Leadership Academy
Post-secondary education better known as pre-university commences from age 17+. It takes about one to two years. The higher education has the certificate and diploma education from age 17+onwards, teacher training at Teacher Training Institutes, a bachelors degree from age 18+ or 19+ (3-5 years), postgraduate studies (Masters degree and Ph.D.) which take about five years. International and privates universities and colleges set the general entry requirements for primary and secondary education levels being interviews and admission assessments. Undergraduate courses offered by public schools are for Malaysians, but the government has set aside 5% of places for international students to pursue noncritical programs. Scholars wishing to continue with their university, college or post-graduate studies in Universities in Malaysia are required to adhere to the following provisions:
ü Public university courses – Bachelor degree (full-time mode) and postgraduate programs – international students have to apply directly to the University of their Choice.
ü Private colleges require students to apply directly to the desired institutions which must have the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs Malaysia to enroll international students.
The Malaysian education system is designed in such a manner as to reflect the needs and identity or a multicultural society. Ideally, there are about eight broad categories of educational institutions (which include public-funded institutions as well as private organizations). The higher education level has groups of higher education institutions which include government-funded public universities, polytechnics, community colleges and public colleges. Private higher educational institutions, on the other hand, include non-university status institutions such as private colleges, university status institutions such as private universities and university colleges as well as foreign university branch campuses ( ).
The legal, regulatory frameworks that govern the provision of education in Malaysia include the Education Act 1996, the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996, the National Council on Higher Education Institution Act 1996, the Malaysian Qualification Agency Act 2007, the Universities and University Colleges (Amendment) Act 1996, the National Higher Education Fund Corporation Act 1997, the MARA Institute of Technology (Amendment) Act 2000, the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (Amendment) Act 2000 as well as the private Higher Educational Institutions (Amendment) Act 2009
The Education Act 1996 includes pre-tertiary levels of education under the national school system which comprises preschool, primary and secondary school as well as post-secondary education ( ). Students in public school are required to pay tuition fees on their own. However, the costs are highly subsidized by the government while students in private institutions are required to pay full fees. There are many types of financial aid available for Malaysian students who enroll in higher education in the country. These include scholarships and study loans from public and private sectors. The main sponsors of financial aid from the government include the Ministry of Higher Education (Scholarship Division), the federal Higher Education, the Fund (Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional PTPTN), the Ministry of Higher Education, the public services department (JPA) sponsorship program, various state foundations as well as government-linked companies. Nevertheless, the federal government, as well as the non-governmental organizations, also avail funding in the form of scholarships, grants or study loans ( ).
The Ministry of Education offers two types of free post-secondary programs or pre-university courses for students with SPM qualifications which include the sixth form that prepares students for the standard public examination Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) which is equivalent to GCE A levels qualification, or Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM). Matriculation (for one year) conducted by matriculation colleges under the Ministry of Education which award successful candidates with the registration certificate. The Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) governs the higher educational institutions in Malaysia. The Malaysian Qualifications Act (MQA), 2007 outlines for the establishment of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), concerned with the formulation of a framework that approves educational programs ( ). Students in Malaysia can choose to study either locally-run programs, academic twinning programs, vocational, technical or skills training. A student can study through traditional classroom learning, e-learning, long distance learning, flexible learning, open learning, cross-border education as well as mixed learning.
The national quality assurance of Malaysia also known as Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) was developed mainly to ensure that all programs and skills offered by higher education provider meet the minimum standard set out by MQA. It was established in was created on 1st November 2007 with an aim of implementing the national framework also known as Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF), accrediting higher educational programs and requirements, supervise and regulate the quality and standard of higher education providers, establish and maintain the Malaysian Qualifications Register, as well as perform other related errands. MQF develops, and categories requirements based on a set of criteria approved nationally and by the acceptable international practices at the level of learning attained by the learners. All the requirements in the framework are based upon four classifications, which are: learning outcomes, credit, objectives as well as the field of study. MQF has eight levels of qualifications in four sectors of education. The four areas of education are the skill sector, vocational and technical industry, life-long learning sector and higher education (university) sector.
Education is a major sector in the economy of Malaysia. It is played a major in transforming the livelihoods of the nationals in addition to bringing about development, intellectuality and the much-needed change in the society. Moreover, it has indirectly led to the sustainable economic growth and promoted intercultural relations especially from the scholars who come far and wide to pursue studies in Malaysian universities and colleges. Through education especially the higher education has led to the development of global competitiveness and placed Malaysia in global scales. Economic development, as well as the world-class economy, are the by-products of quality education offered in the institutes of higher education.
Under the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, the school system seeks to pay attention to the structural elements which are in line with international best practices of high-performing school systems. Equipping the students with the demand of the future, structural adjustments across each educational phase will be made and resources utilized optimally all for the aim of providing the very best to Malaysians of all levels. To realize the objective of becoming a center of educational excellence, the government seeks to release more funds to the education sector. Approximately 20% of the national budget for education and training. One of the Malaysia’s national objectives is to become a world-class national offering the best education and with the most efficient educational systems. In line with this aim, the government ensures that about 40% of the 17-24 years age group attain tertiary education. Moreover, the government is also working tooth and nail to ensure that about 150,000 international students are studying at higher educational institutions by the year 2015. At present, Malaysia is already a popular destination for international students with a world ranking of 11th place regarding international student’s enrollment.