Education policy in Malaysia: global transformation processes, IOs’ influence and cultural spheres

The Malaysian education system has been influenced by numerous internal and external developments. Historically, Britain’s colonial rule created institutional structures that still impact education in Malaysia. In addition, the country’s ethnic diversity with the predominance of the Malay majority significantly shapes the education system, with different educational institutions for the different ethnic groups. The paper also examines the inclusiveness and scope of benefits in the Malaysian education sector, focusing on gender parity, migrant and refugee education, and educational digitalization. While Malaysia has made considerable progress in educational digitalization and integrating girls and women into its education system, the education of migrants and refugees remains a challenge, with these groups lacking access to the public education system. It is also shown that Malaysia has aligned its education reforms with international initiatives, notably referencing OECD’s PISA studies, and undertaking reforms based on these assessments. Accordingly, cooperation with international organizations has played a important role in advancing Malaysia’s education system. I argue that while international norms have significantly influenced Malaysia’s education policies, challenges remain in effectively implementing these norms. The study employs qualitative content analysis and expert interviews to explore these developments, highlighting how historical and institutional contexts and norms have shaped reform outcomes.