Development of The

Education System
in Malaysia
GROUP 3
Siti Nadhirah binti Zuraidi
Nur Shahirah Zafirah binti Zainun
Suhana binti Ismail
Atiqah binti Ab. Hamid
Madihah binti Che Mad Akhir

The Education System Before Independence

(1400-1956)

Before British
Colonization (14001786)

Islamic
Education
- Teachers
house
-Mosque,
surau, &
madrasah
-Pondok/hut

Before World War

II (1786-1941)

-Primary &
Secondary
Education
-National Teacher
Training
-Vocational &
Technical
Education
-Higher
Education

During British
Colonization
(1786-1956)

After World War II

(1946-1956)
-Cheeseman Plan
(1946)
-Barnes Report (1951)
-Fenn-Wu Report
(1952)
-Education Ordinance
(1952)
-Razak Report (1956)
-National Teachers
Trainee
-Higher Education

Education System:
Post Independence

1960, THE RAHMAN TALIB REPORT

Malay language as main language in
schools.
Free secondary school education.
Automatic promotion until form 3.
Establishment of technical &
vocational schools.
Emphasis on religious & moral
education.

THE EDUCATION ACT 1961

Aspect

Elaboration

Levels of education

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

Primary school education.

Lower secondary school education.
Upper secondary school education.
Education in other educational institutions; eg:
colleges, teacher training colleges, etc.

Primary education

i. Compulsory for all children of school-going age

ii. Free for all.
iii. Offered in national schools & national-type schools.

Secondary education

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

Islamic Education

i. Only offered if there were more than 15 Muslim pupils.

ii. Taught by trained Agama teachers.
iii. Two periods a week during school hours.

Normal lower secondary

Normal upper secondary
Trade
Technical (upper secondary)
Vocational (upper secondary)
Secondary (approval from Ministry of Education

HUSSEIN ONN REPORT 1971

Provide a basic education for all children
of school-going age.
Acknowledge the Malay language as the
main medium of instruction.
Maintain the status of English language as
second language.
Time allocated for teaching of English
language will be increased & teachers
given the necessary training.

1979, MAHATHIR REPORT

Chaired by Dr. Mahathir bin Mohammad.
Main objective:
to review the goals and effectiveness of the
present education system for the purpose of
meeting the manpower needs of the country
both for the short and long terms. Besides
this, to also ensure that the education system
meets the countrys goals of producing a
united, disciplined and skilled society.

 Recommendations:
Focus on the 3 basic skills; reading, writing &
arithmetic.
Teaching of English language as a second language.
Emphasis given for a sound spiritual education &
other disciplines, wherever appropriate.
Secondary education to be divided into two streams;
academic & vocational.
Extension of educational opportunities from 9 to 11
years.
Emphasis on curriculum ala Malaysia.
Review of Bahasa Malaysia in-service courses.