In-depth reporting on Malaysia and the region.
Malaysia's Education Ministry is intensifying psychosocial support programmes for schools following the death of a female teacher in Hulu Selangor, with Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek pledging collaborative efforts with health authorities and NGOs.
Indonesia's Constitutional Court has ordered the government to stop funding President Prabowo Subianto's free nutritious meal programme from the education budget, ruling the scheme does not qualify as an educational expense and violates constitutional spending mandates.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reiterated the MADANI Government's commitment to prioritising teacher welfare and education system development, emphasising improved salary schemes and career pathways for educators.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called for strengthened Bahasa Melayu proficiency across Malaysia's education system while simultaneously promoting learning of economically valuable languages including English, Mandarin, Tamil and Arabic.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has warned Malaysian school leaders against suppressing reports of bullying and abuse to maintain their institutions' reputations, cautioning that concealment allows problems to escalate into serious harm.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has confirmed that Malaysia's Form Six pre-university system will remain under the Ministry of Education's purview, reversing earlier indications that oversight would transfer to the Higher Education Ministry.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged Malaysia to critically reassess and reconstruct its historical narrative, emphasizing the importance of aligning historical understanding with the country's current national identity.
Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidah has directed Kemas leadership to improve teacher salaries and allowances while converting senior roles to permanent positions, addressing retention challenges in the agency.
Johor has appointed a deputy chairman for its Education and Information Committee to enhance administrative efficiency and improve public service delivery. The move is part of broader efforts to strengthen governance.
Malaysia's social welfare department is reshaping rural development through the MADANI Adopted Village Programme, investing RM600,000 in Kampung Sungai Setar Besar to combine physical infrastructure improvements with human capital development and vocational training.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that Malaysia's education system must equip students with technological prowess in fields like AI and digitalisation while anchoring them in strong moral values, cultural awareness, and ethical principles.
%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fpattern%3E%3C%2Fdefs%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph5rzgmg)%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22url(%23ph5rzgmp)%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22central%22%20fill%3D%22rgba(255%2C255%2C255%2C0.95)%22%20font-family%3D%22Georgia%2C%20'Times%20New%20Roman'%2C%20serif%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20font-size%3D%22194%22%20letter-spacing%3D%22-0.02em%22%3ESchools%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
While bullying must be tackled, Malaysia's new tribunal system risks consuming school resources and transforming educational institutions into evidence-gathering centres. A principal argues for keeping resolution school-led and educationally focused.
A new tuition initiative launched in Kuala Lumpur will offer free academic support to 1,600 SPM candidates from 40 secondary schools, focusing on core subjects to ease the financial burden on families preparing for national examinations.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has identified education, welfare and employment opportunities as essential pillars for empowering Malaysia's Indian community, calling for stronger grassroots engagement by government agencies.
A 41-year-old former teacher in Singapore has been sentenced to two years in jail after being found guilty of performing indecent acts with a child and sexual grooming. The offences involved a student he targeted from age 13.
ASEAN education ministers have unveiled an ambitious five-year education strategy spanning 2026-2030, prioritising artificial intelligence, STEM education, and student well-being to strengthen regional competitiveness and cultural identity.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says Malaysia's matriculation programme balances academic merit with support for underprivileged groups, guaranteeing entry for top SPM performers while maintaining Bumiputera quotas.
Malaysia's KEMAS kindergarten programme will introduce smartboards and AI-powered learning tools across all classes nationwide by year-end 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid announced, enhancing digital exposure for children from age two.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed the MADANI Government's commitment to strengthening Islamic and pondok schools across Malaysia, emphasizing the integration of modern disciplines like artificial intelligence alongside traditional religious instruction.
Malaysia's National Union of the Teaching Profession is pushing for legislation to protect educators from lawsuits and social media attacks when disciplining students, citing growing reluctance among teachers to enforce classroom rules.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged Malaysian schools to prioritise victim protection over institutional image, warning against concealing bullying incidents that damage student wellbeing and undermine accountability.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Malaysia's education system to develop teachers proficient in emerging technologies like AI while maintaining deep ethical grounding and commitment to human values.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called on Malaysian schools to transparently report bullying cases rather than suppress them for reputational reasons, emphasizing that swift action protects victims and addresses systemic problems.
Rampur Development Authority has ordered demolition of 38 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Uttar Pradesh, India, citing unauthorised construction. The university was founded by politician Azam Khan, now imprisoned.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has underscored the necessity for a coordinated, strategic response to escalating school safety challenges, urging parents, educators and institutions to strengthen protective measures.
A 17-year-old student detonated a homemade bomb at an Islamic school in West Sumatra following alleged years of bullying, prompting fresh scrutiny of Indonesia's escalating school violence problem.
Chinese universities are banning smart watches, glasses and fitness trackers from exam halls after discovering students using AI-powered wearables to cheat. The crackdown includes AI-powered proctoring systems and severe penalties.
Penang's Islamic Religious Council has committed RM2 million to the Mutiara Didik Cemerlang Akademik programme, delivering academic support to over 7,400 Bumiputera students through tuition classes and exam preparation workshops.
Perak has achieved its strongest SPM performance in over a decade, with a State Average Grade of 4.49 in 2025. The state also excelled in STPM and STAM examinations, with education officials attributing the success to coordinated efforts across the state's schooling system.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that academic achievement alone is insufficient without moral development, urging parents and teachers to instil kindness and respect in children while combating bullying in schools.
Malaysia's Education Ministry is committed to eliminating the digital divide under its new Education Blueprint 2026-2035, pledging universal high-speed internet connectivity and digital competency training for all students nationwide.
South Korea has prosecuted its first case of AI-powered glasses used to cheat on national exams. The incident has triggered emergency meetings among exam administrators to strengthen security protocols and ban such devices.
A prominent NGO has recommended that Malaysia's Education Ministry establish a dedicated body to oversee student safety and welfare, citing international examples from the UK and Australia.
The Selangor Education Department is assisting authorities in investigating a viral video showing two boys fighting at a Rawang school, signalling heightened scrutiny of student conduct and safety protocols.
Malaysia's Education Ministry has filled 99.8% of preschool teacher positions, deploying 10,478 educators nationwide. The ministry plans to open 300 new classes annually, targeting 1,040 additional classes over five years to meet rising enrollment demand.
Malaysia's Finance Ministry has reduced TAR UMT's promised 10-year tax exemption to just three years, with restrictive new conditions that exclude tuition fees and rental income from exemption. The move threatens the university's ability to maintain affordable education.
Malaysia's Ministry of Education will open 1,040 new preschool classes by 2027 as part of the MADANI government's commitment to expanding early childhood education access across the country.
Malaysia's Federal Territories education chief has called for a National School Safety Master Plan to address rising school violence, proposing coordinated security measures, mental health support, and early intervention systems across all institutions.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has underscored that Malaysia's long-term prosperity relies fundamentally on cultivating high-calibre human capital capable of navigating complex global challenges through collaboration and shared values.
The proposed relocation of SJKT Ladang Sungai Muar in Segamat has entered the land acquisition phase, with the Education Ministry and Segamat MP R. Yuneswaran overseeing the transition process through collaboration with local land authorities.
Bangsa Johor KEMAS Kindergarten becomes Malaysia's first community kindergarten to combine English-medium instruction with digital learning, supported by RM3.6 million in Johor Government funding.
MARA is redirecting sponsored students from the United States to alternative countries for 2025 and 2026 intakes, citing political and geopolitical uncertainties. The move aims to protect students while maintaining world-class educational standards.
Malaysia is leveraging higher education as a strategic tool to deepen cooperation with African nations, Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim said, positioning education, trade and investment as interconnected pillars for economic partnership.
Malaysia's Education Ministry is intensifying school safety measures through strengthened audits, CCTV expansion to 333 schools, and updated anti-bullying guidelines aligned with new legislation.
The Royal Malaysia Police has broadened its character and discipline programme into primary schools across Kuala Lumpur, extending an initiative previously limited to secondary institutions.
The Ministry of Education's MADANI Book Voucher Programme will distribute RM100 e-vouchers to over 2.2 million students nationwide, with redemption starting tomorrow through the BookCapital platform until October 31.
A creative nationwide competition organised by Yayasan KRU has set a new Malaysia Book of Records mark after attracting 153,000 preschool participants from KEMAS and Unity kindergartens, combining artistic expression with environmental conservation messaging.
MARA will deploy four full-time wardens with military backgrounds to all 58 MARA Junior Science Colleges nationwide by January 2025, beginning with 10 institutions this year to enhance student discipline and character.
The Sultan of Pahang has urged higher education institutions, particularly those in the state, to establish scholarship programmes for students from Tioman Island, citing Institut Jantung Negara University College's initiative as a commendable example.
Malaysia's Education Ministry will launch coordinated advocacy programmes on child protection laws across schools, following discussions with the Human Rights Commission on addressing bullying and sexual harassment.