All You Need To Know About Government and Private Schools in Malaysia

Every parent wants to provide the best quality education for their children. As such, choosing the right school becomes a highly important task. The questions begin to surface; is the cluster public school near your neighbourhood better than the average public school? What about private and international schools? What are the major takeaways between public, private, and international schools? And most importantly, which type of school is best for your child's enrollment? The fact is, choosing the right school for your child really is important. This is, after all, the space where your child will spend most of their younger days, growing their ambition and personal aspirations. They will form social circles and gain knowledge in ways that may come to shape them into young adults with inspired minds. So, here's a brief guide for you to get to know about the private and government schools in tropical Malaysia! Public Schools and Private Schools in Malaysia A public school can be a primary or secondary school, either national, religious, or vernacular. They cost right next to nothing and are funded as well as controlled by the Malaysian government. Hence, why they are also commonly referred to as government schools. Vernacular schools, specially cater to Malaysian ethnic communities—chiefly, Chinese and Indians. Their official mode of language is either Mandarin or Tamil and enrollments are open to Malaysian citizens of all races. The national language Bahasa Malaysia and English are included as added subjects. Private and international schools are known for their exorbitant costs and school fees. International schools are also a form of private school but they are not funded or controlled by the government. Instead, funding are by an individual body, mainly from parents and private organisations. But of course, high investments mean a high return. Private education may cost a fortune but their infrastructures, curriculum and even every hired educator in the schools are the best of the best. What You Need To Know About Schools in Malaysia Image credit: Motherhood Story It's needless to say the education systems between public and private schools are vastly different. Within these differences, lie the pros and cons of enrolling your child into these institutions. Without delay, let's delve into aspects of these schools that may benefit your child! #1 The Teaching Practice in Public and Private Schools In the context of public schools in Malaysia, the student-to-teacher ratios are always higher. Unless you reside in thinly populated districts in the country, of course. Even so, public schools adopt a teacher-centered approach as opposed to private schools which are more student-centered. The high number of students in public school classes oftentimes makes it challenging for teachers to provide personalised support for each student while trying to catch up with the syllabus. Image credit: Shutterstock This isn't necessarily a bad thing though, as there are many who still believe teachers in public schools are highly experienced and qualified. Teachers for government schools are often funded to attend further courses to improve their teaching pedagogy. Moreover, some of these schools benefit from their geographic location or known academic performances which attract parents of the middle class and upper. This means some public schools tend to have better infrastructure and even conducts of their curriculum, thanks to their respective Parent Teacher Associations (PIBG). Therefore, most of the time, all parents need to do is take a closer look into these schools for a better understanding of their overall systems, facilities, and just how active and supportive the Parent Teacher Associations are. Image credit: Shutterstock On the other hand, classrooms in private schools, are much smaller. Teachers comprise of local and foreign specially trained with exceptional qualifications to provide the best quality education. They also have much fewer students to attend at a time, enabling them to practice a more personalised touch to address students' personal learning needs. They also often also have classroom assistants to better engage and guide students on a face-to-face basis. Additionally, private school classrooms are often equipped with top-notch teaching aids, air-conditioned classrooms along a vibrant, conducive learning atmosphere. #2 The Case of Cluster Schools of Excellence Image credit: Shutterstock There are many Cluster Schools of Excellence (Sekolah Kluster Kecemerlangan) across the states of Malaysia, both day schools or boarding schools. These public schools earn this prestigious recognition through high academic performances or even excellent sportsmanship. Additionally, they need to fulfill a list of requirements in order to qualify as a Cluster School of Excellence. Teachers here are equally qualified as those in private schools. They consist of those with exceptional teaching performances to ensure quality education to students. Not only that, but the goal is also to enable teachers to best assist and guide students with multi-needs and talents. Similarly, students who wish to attend the Cluster Schools of Excellence will also need to full certain criteria for the upkeep of the school's excellence. These are such as good grades, excellent attendance, and co-curricular participation. #3 Differing School Curriculums and Education Systems Image credit: Shutterstock Did you know there are over 10,000 public schools in Malaysia? And the number continues to grow to this date! The curriculum for public schools differs drastically in comparison to private schools. They are focused mostly on core classes and subjects, neglecting peripheral subjects. This is partly due to the ever-changing budget and constant improvements in policies and syllabus by the government. Bahasa Malaysia is the official medium of communication in public schools. This is a large contrast to private and international schools that often place the Malay language as an additional subject, while every other lesson is English-based. Government-funded schools follow the same curriculum are only open to Malaysian citizens. Students sit for national examinations like the ongoing Form 3 Assesments (PT3), Sijil Penilaian Menengah (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM). For Standard 6 students, there was the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) but this national exam was recently abolished. Furthermore, the education system in Malaysia especially in public schools constantly undergoes improvements. In the Malaysian Education Blueprint in 2013-2025, the Ministry reaffirms that teaching pedagogies in public schools nowadays are placing less emphasis on examinations and rote-learning. Instead, schools public schools now are focused on continuous assessments to foster independent learning and critical thinking! So you definitely shouldn't lose faith in the public education system. Just take a closer look into the schools for a better idea of their overall systems and infrastructure. More Comprehensive Curriculum in Private and International Schools Image credit: Shutterstock The curriculums for public schools are definitely not a serious cause of concern. However, there are likely better perks with private schools. Because they are not under stringent supervision by the government, they may offer a more comprehensive curriculum. Private schools are semi-government controlled while international schools are fully-independent. School activities from homework, assignments to sports to musical or artistic curriculum are often extensive with an abundance of choices and far greater technological access. For instance, if your child is more scientifically or artistically inclined, a private school will have the capacity, facilities, and expertise to hone their interests. Most private schools tend to follow the national curriculum but in far better conduct—inclusive of materials and infrastructure. Some private schools, like international schools, tend to include the Cambridge IGCSE or other international syllabus including American, Canadian, French, and many more. This gives your child a better opportunity to qualify for higher education abroad. #4 Diversity in both Public and Private Schools Image credit: Shutterstock & Motherhood Story While public schools in Malaysia offer a multiracial setting, including the vernacular schools, the notion of diversity for private schools is vastly different. Regardless, widening options of schools for your child will allow you to be more selective about who your child mingles with. The truth is, all of these schools can offer your child a positive peer environment. It's really all about your child's learning preferences and needs. And of course, not to forget their parents' affordability. Public national schools welcome Malaysian students of all races, from Malays to Chinese and Indians, as well as those of Sabahan and Sarawakian ethnicities. In the case of private schools, both students and teachers hail from numerous nationalities around the globe. Some of these schools have students and teachers of over 75 nationalities. What better way is there to nurture your child into not just a model Malaysian citizen, but also a global citizen? The Ultimate Takeaway Public schools are funded by the government and they vary in terms of academic performances, religious and ethnic inclinations. Even so, they may fall behind in terms of infrastructure, teaching aids, and catering to your child's specific learning needs. The responsibility lies on parents to look into the respective school's performances, parent-teacher associations, and infrastructure. Meanwhile, private and international schools promise your child far wider access to knowledge and information, in a highly conducive setting. Your child are also likelier to learn how to cope and socialise with peers from around the globe. They will explore endless skills and talents under the best supervision and expertise public schools may not be able to offer. So the choice is now yours (and your little one) to decide. Which do you prefer? Share with us your thoughts by commenting or tagging us at Motherhood.com.my, on Facebook and Instagram. For more insightful reads, news updates, and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!

Family Planning by

Family Fun By Sunway Malls

Motherhood Panel of Experts

More Stories

Cash-Savvy Kids: How to Help Your Tots Prep their Financial Budget