ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the administration of education at the state level during the Pre-Second World War Period, the Japanese Occupation Period, Pre-Independence Period, and Post-Independence Period. The administration of education in Peninsular Malaysia during Pre-Second World War period was influenced by the British colonial policy of 'divide and rule'. The administration of education during the Japanese occupation of Malaysia was centrally controlled by the Japanese military government and, therefore, administration of education at the state level ceased to exist. The Directors of Education at the State Education Departments of Sabah and Sarawak continued to be responsible for the administration of education in their states. The State Education Departments have become more complex in their organization with more funds to manage and more projects and programmes to implement. Normally, in the administration of the State Education Department the State Director of Education has a dual role to play, as both the chief professional officer and the chief administrator.
