ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the contemporary issues facing the Malaysian education system in three sections, namely, access and equity, quality and relevance, and efficiency and effectiveness. In each of these sections, the analysis spans both the school level and higher education level. Unlike in many other countries, the education structure in Malaysia is from K–13 instead of K–12, with six years primary schooling, three years lower secondary, and four years upper secondary, which includes two years pre-university. One of the most controversial issues in Malaysian education is language policy. Although there are several different media of instruction for schools at the primary level, the point of convergence is at the secondary level, where all the public schools are taught in the national language, Bahasa Malaysia. With the rapid expansion and privatisation of higher education, the quality of higher education in Malaysia has become a great concern among the stakeholders of higher education.
