More parents in Malaysia opting for international schools

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia (MNTV) – More parents are sending their children to private schools – especially international schools, with enrolment hitting nearly 70,000 last year, reports Asia News Network.

If unaddressed in the upcoming 2027 school curriculum reform, this will lead to a growing gap between the quality of education in private and national schools, stakeholders warn. 

Stakeholders say the trend points to a growing gap between private and national schools in funding, facilities and flexibility, which the Education Ministry needs to address with reforms such as the new school curriculum for 2027.

According to figures from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), enrolment of local children in international schools located throughout the country went up by 18.2 percent in 2024 compared to the year before, from 57,363 to 67,821.

Other types of private schools which also saw strong growth in popularity among Malaysians were special education schools, which recorded a 32 pc jump from 728 students to 966; and academic secondary schools, whose enrolment rose 16.7 pc from 13,862 to 16,173. 

A total of 216,513 Malaysians were enrolled in all types of private schools in 2024, while the number of students at national schools was 4.8 million.

Universiti Utara Malaysia School of Education senior lecturer Dr Muhammad Noor Abdul Aziz said the rising demand for private schools is not a temporary spike; it is a sustained pattern.

Stratification 

Many believe private schools offer globally aligned curricula with consistent standards, he said.

“Another reason parents are attracted to private schools is because of the perceived challenges in national schools such as overcrowding, limited facilities and the ‘teach-to-test’ culture.

“If we’re not careful, it could deepen educational inequalities,” he said, adding that the increase in demand for private education will likely continue among urban parents able to afford the fees.

“What we’re seeing is stratification – families with different means and aspirations are choosing different paths,” he said.

He said the government needs to do more to upgrade government school facilities, expand English proficiency programs, strengthen student support services and adopt more flexible, student-centered teaching methods.

“Parents want a relevant curriculum that is embedded with modern skills such as critical thinking, digital literacy, and global competencies.

“National schools can deliver these, but it requires resources, autonomy and a strong professional development program for teachers,” he said.

The 2027 school curriculum, he added, has potential to strengthen confidence in national schools but parents will want to see real improvements before they start taking their children out of private schools.

National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general Fouzi Singon said the trend of sending children to private schools is driven by economics. “This is not because we are facing a crisis (in our national education system). 

“Parents who can afford private schooling are buying comfort, facilities and flexibility. That doesn’t mean national schools are failing,” he said, stressing that the country’s 10,000 national schools continue to produce top-performers despite the challenges. “Comparing national schools to private schools is not fair when the resource levels vastly differ,” he said. 

National Association of Private Educational Institutions deputy president Dr Teh Choon Jin said many parents opt for private schools as they want smaller classes and better facilities.

He said the rise in enrolment at special education schools reflect existing gaps between private and national schools. “When a child needs therapy or individualized learning, parents will move mountains to provide immediate support,” he said.