The Malaysian Education Ministry has recently announced that they are open to more international schools being set up in the country. However, it is mentioned that these schools should be set up outside the Klang Valley.

The scaling up of international schools is one of the entry point projects in Malaysia’s Economic Transformation Programme. The current number of 116 international schools in the country has surpassed the initial target to have 87 schools by the year 2020.

The Malaysian Education Ministry’s plan to open more international schools can impact the UK school sector in three ways:

1. Opportunity for those who are interested to set up a campus in Malaysia
2. Heightened competition for the UK school sector recruiting Malaysian students
3. Heightened competition for the sector recruiting students from countries sending students to Malaysia’s schools

Commentary from Jennifer Wan, British Council Malaysia

The international and private school sector in the market has seen a very strong growth over the past few years. In 2012, there were only 70 international schools in Malaysia. The main driving force behind this growth is the government’s initiative to introduce more international schools, in addition to:

• Relaxation of enrolment restrictions into international schools for Malaysians
• Increased affluence of Malaysian parents to afford private education
• Demand for an English medium education
• Influx of expatriate communities, thus increasing demand for international education

While the number of international schools in Malaysia has grown, the government is now focused on increasing enrolments of non-Malaysian students in these schools. In 2014, there are only 45,000 students enrolled in the country’s international schools. Close to half of these students are Malaysians, while the rest are non-Malaysians.

This could pose as a threat to the UK schools sector as Malaysian parents, in view of the weakening ringgit and poor economy, might consider sending their children to a local international schools while parents of students from other countries may choose Malaysia due to the affordability. UK schools intending to recruit students from Malaysia should be very clear in their unique selling propositions, such as unique student experiences, success rates in university entrance and most importantly, the unrivalled pastoral care the UK schools sector can offer .

For more information on the market and how British Council can help promote your institution in Malaysia, please contact Jennifer Wan.