WSJ: Lack of autonomy causing poor performance

Malaysia’s dismal performance in education compared with other countries could be attributed to the lack of autonomy given to schools and the Education Ministry’s decision-making system for the schools, the Wall Street Journal reported today.

WSJ quoted Ulrich Zachau, the World Bank’s South-East Asia director, as saying that the lack of say for schools in employment decisions and spending plans given to government schools as contributing factors.

“Around 65 percent of teacher hires are done by the national government rather than individual schools, compared to 5 percent in South Korea, where public schools have more autonomy,” it reported.

“Schools also have little input when it comes to spending on new building equipment, creating assessments for their students, or choosing text books - decisions that are regulated by the Education Ministry,” it further said. 

As a result of public information about schools’ performance being difficult to access, schools have become “less accountable”, it reported.

It also quoted Zachau as saying that the education reform, pledged by the government through its National Education Blueprint, is “not going to happen overnight”.

It said that “doubts are rising” as to whether the education system can provide the kind of graduates needed to fill up high-skill jobs that are considered “key to economic development”.

“The exodus of local talent means the country faces a shortage of skilled professionals, including bankers, researchers and engineers,” referring to an exodus among Malaysia’s brightest students leaving overseas seeking greener pastures.

“And that doesn’t fit well with Malaysia’s broader goal of vaulting into the league of high-income economies that include neighboring Singapore - a current magnet for Malaysian talent,” it further said.