The impact of higher education system in Malaysia : examination system / Chyindilinda Omiting and Siti Nur Izzati Ibrahim

Education plays a central role in any country's pursuit of economic growth
and national development. In today's global economy, a nation's success depends
fundamentally on the knowledge, skills and competencies of its people. In recent
years, the Malaysian education system has come under increased public scrutiny
and debate, as parents' expectations rise and employers voice their concern
regarding the system's ability to adequately prepare young Malaysians for the
challenges of the 21st century. Given the nature of the education system, it will
take several years for fundamental changes to be felt. This makes the need for
ambitious actions now both important and urgent.
Ever since the Federation of Malaya gained independence in 1957, the
Malaysia education system has been developing so as to unify the nation state
and to promote economic growth. The Education Act of 1961, which followed
educational reform efforts such as the Razak Statement of 1956 and the Rahman
Talib Report of 1960, has governed the modern education system in Malaysia.
These educational reforms correlated with socioeconomic conditions. In the early
1970 s, the New Economic Policy (NEP 1971 ), or Bumiputera Policy, was
implemented. The NEP aimed to bring about a better balance in enrollment among
the different ethnic groups in Malaysia. It resulted in a steady increase in the
number of Bumiputera students in Malaysian universities.