The Malaysian education system is once again drawing attention, as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself has described it as the "weakest in Asean." This statement follows the declining performance of Malaysia in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). In the latest PISA rankings, Malaysia ranked 51st globally out of 81 assessed countries and economies. In the Southeast Asian region, Malaysia's PISA scores in Mathematics dropped from 440 points in 2018 to 409 in 2022, placing it behind Brunei, Vietnam, and Singapore. In Science, Malaysia's score decreased by 22 points from 2018 to 416 in 2022, and its English reading score also declined by 27 points.
Undoubtedly, Malaysia's education system is on a downward trajectory, even though its overall PISA scores indicate a comparative advantage over Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Cambodia. Nevertheless, considering Malaysia's aspirations to achieve high-income status, the decline is a cause for concern. The nation must engage in thorough introspection to revitalize its education system. A robust education framework is crucial for nurturing the essential human capital required for a progressive and innovative economy. Addressing the Dual Language Programme (DLP) is imperative, with the government needing to formalize its inclusion in the Education Act of 1996.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has emphasized that the implementation of the Dual Language Programme (DLP) should guarantee that other students' opportunities to learn science and mathematics in the national language or their mother tongue remain unaffected. Therefore, students are expected to excel in both languages. However, Sarawak’s Deputy Minister I for Education, Innovation, and Talent Development, Datuk Dr. Annual Rapaee, recently called for a revision of the act to ensure that every Malaysian student is proficient in both Malay and English. By amending the law, the DLP cannot be altered arbitrarily, regardless of changes in the federal government or leadership within the Ministry of Education. Initiatives for overhauling the education system should commence without delay.
