Education is the responsibility of the Malaysian government. Primary and secondary educations are provided for free and are monitored by the Ministry of Education (MOE). The education system is divided into preschool education, primary education, secondary education. Primary preschool isn't always funded by the government. Post-secondary education and tertiary education is under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education.

The minimum school days per year is 190. The school year starts in January and goes through the third week of November. There are 5 holidays that equal 11 weeks, but how they are distributed is supervised by individual states.

School structure in Malaysia

Malaysian school system structure:

• Kindergarten (Ages 3-6)
• Primary school (age 7-12)
• Secondary education (age 13-17)
• Post-secondary education (age 17-18)
• University Education (age 18 +)

While kindergarten is optional, primary education is compulsory by law. Education is provided free for all Malaysians, but parents do have the option for private schooling or homeschooling. It is compulsory to wear a school uniform in public schools.

The main school subject in public schools is Malay followed by English and Mathematics. The Chinese and Tamil schools have the same curriculum, with the expection of having Chinese and Tamil as main subjects. English is not taught until the second phase of primary education.

After primary education, students must take the Primary School Achievement Test where they are tested in a minimum of 5 subjects (7 in Chinese and Tamil schools). In secondary education, students are able to choose from a range of elective subjects.

Near the end of secondary education, Malaysian students must take the PMR exam, which determines if they will attend academic, technical, or vocational schools. Students must also take the Malaysian Higher School Certificate examination, which is needed to attend university.

Private Schools in Malaysia

Private schooling is offered in Malaysia on all levels from nursery schools up to tertiary education. Malaysian private schools follow the same curriculum as the Malaysian public sector, but may specialize in religious education or to the foreign community.

Private schools usually have three terms per year and the average tuition usually cost around RM 10,000 to RM 15,000 per year.

Sri Garden Schools
No 9 Jalan 1/75C,
Off Jalan Pria Taman Maluri,
55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Sri KDU
No. 5, Jalan Teknologi 2/1
Kota Damansara
47810 Daerah Petaling
Selangor Darul Ehsan

Real Education
No. 2-6, Jalan SS19/1G,
47500 Subang Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

For more options, consult the section 'International Schools'.

University

There are 20 public and 32 private universities in Malaysia that offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

The requirement for universities are the STPM (Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia) exams which are comparable to A levels. All public universities can take in international students, but public institutions have to be licensed by the Immigration Department of the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs.

Libraries

If you come across a building with the word Perpustakaan written on it, you've found a library! There are a few public libraries, including the National Library in Kuala Lumpur.

Perpustakaan Kuala Lumpur
No. 1, Jalan Raja, 50050 KL.
Tel: 03-2692 6204

Hours of Service: Monday 2:00pm - 6:45pm; Tuesday - Friday 10:00am - 6:45pm; Saturday & Sunday 10:00am - 5:00pm; Public Holiday/First Saturday & Sunday Closed

JFK Library (Japan Foundation)
18^th Floor, Northpoint, Block B,
Mid-Valley City, No. 1, Medan Syed Putra,
59200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: 03-2284 6228

Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10:30am - 6:30pm; Saturday 10:00am - 6:00pm; Sunday, Monday & Public Holidays Closed

Selangor Public Library
Golf Club Road 13/6,
Section 13, 40100 Shah Alam, Selangor.
Tel: 03-5519 7667

Hours: Monday 10:00am - 6:00pm; Tuesday - Friday 9:30am - 6:00pm; Saturday and Sunday 9:30am - 5:00pm

National Library (Perpustakaan Negara)
232 Jalan Tun Razak, 50572 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2687 1700

Hours: Tuesday -Friday 10.00 am - 4.30 pm; Saturday -Sunday 9.00 am - 4.30 pm; Monday and Public Holiday Closed

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