The international school sector in Malaysia is still growing with reports of at least seven new schools due to open in the next two years; including an Australian and American school. This is despite having met the initial target of 87 international schools by the year 2020 set by the government. There are currently more than 110 international schools in Malaysia delivering a wide spectrum of British, Australian, American and Canadian curriculum.

More than 70,000 students are enrolled in international schools in Malaysia which use English as a medium of instruction. This number is the highest among all countries in the South East Asia region with Thailand and Singapore following closely as the second and third highest, enrolling more than 64,000 and 63,000 students respectively.

Fees charged by Malaysian international schools are also reportedly the eighth most expensive in the world, ahead of even Australia. Tuition fees alone ranges from more than GBP30,000 to GBP10,000 per year for A-levels studies, not inclusive of registration and other fees.

The demand of international schools education has been on the rise since 2012 when the government removed the 40 per cent cap on the number of Malaysian students an international school can recruit. Since then, more Malaysians have chosen to enrol their children in international schools, mainly due to demand for an English-medium education and the rising affluence of the middle class. Demand has also been fuelled by the influx of expatriates, although this has recently waned due to the drop in oil prices, resulting in expatriates’ depatures.

Commentary by Jennifer Wan, British Council Malaysia

The growth of international schools in Malaysia will definitely impact the recruitment of the UK boarding school sector. The most recent ISC Census 2017 showed a 15 per cent decline in new Malaysian student going to study in ISC schools. The peak was recorded in 2015 with 314 new starters versus 242 new starters in 2017.

Boarding schools and sixth form colleges should understand that it is getting more and more competitive to recruit Malaysian students as a result of more affordable options available in the country. Most international schools in Malaysia are operating below capacity and thus, more competition in getting and retaining students will be expected.

While competing on price might be a challenge, it is essential that UK boarding schools and sixth form colleges highlight the opportunities which traditionally might not be available to those who choose to study locally. Quality and opportunities for further studies are two main reasons parents send their child to an overseas boarding school. Thus, highlighting the success stories of your current students transitioning to universities will be something worth looking into.