Tuition divide: Rising costs widen education inequality in Malaysia

Families struggle with extra tuition fees as concerns grow over fairness and teaching quality

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia (MNTV) – The rising cost of private tuition in Malaysia is deepening education inequality.

Many families struggle to afford extra classes, raising concerns about fairness in the system and the overall quality of teaching in schools.

According to The Sun, Malaysia’s national daily newspaper, tuition fees at centres range from 50 Malaysian ringgit ($11) to 100 ringgit ($21) per subject monthly.

Home tutoring costs significantly more, as rates are usually calculated per hour. Even online classes, a cheaper alternative, range from 50 ringgit ($11) to 80 ringgit ($17) per subject.

The increasing reliance on tuition has sparked debates over why students feel the need for extra lessons outside school hours.

Experts attribute the tuition boom to several factors, including financial pressures on teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and the stress of high-stakes national exams like the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM).

Teh Choon Jin, secretary-general of the National Association of Private Educational Institutions (Napei), said while tuition can provide academic support, excessive dependence on it weakens classroom learning.

“The fact that tuition has become a necessity for many students raises questions about the quality of education in schools,” Teh said.

Public schools often struggle with large class sizes, limiting individual attention for students. Even private schools, which typically offer smaller class sizes, see many parents opting for tuition to give their children an academic edge. This trend has widened the gap between students from different financial backgrounds.

A major concern is the financial strain on teachers. Many public school educators take up private tutoring to supplement their income, given the rising cost of living. However, there is no official data on how many teachers provide private tuition.

The National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general Fouzi Singon said that while 414,404 teachers are officially employed, the number of those engaged in private tutoring remains unclear.

A 2006 Education Ministry circular limits public school teachers to four hours of private tuition per week. However, informal tutoring remains widespread and difficult to regulate. Critics argue that this system benefits wealthier families, who can afford extra lessons, while lower-income students struggle to keep up.

“Education should be equitable. No student should feel disadvantaged just because they cannot afford tuition,” Teh emphasised.

Parents are feeling the financial burden. Zaitun Mohd Kamil, a mother of three children aged between 12 and 16, said tuition fees put a strain on her family’s budget.

“Tuition is not cheap, and all my three children attend extra classes. My husband and I struggle to manage these expenses. I often wonder why we should pay for both school and tuition when our children should be receiving everything they need in the classroom,” said Zaitun, who works as a government clerk.

Education experts believe urgent reforms are needed. They suggest reducing class sizes, shifting the focus from rote memorisation to critical thinking, and offering free remedial classes in schools. This would ensure that tuition remains an option rather than a necessity.

To improve teaching effectiveness, Mohd Azizee Hasan, secretary-general of the Congress of Unions of Teachers in the Malaysian Education Service, called for more professional development programmes.

Initiatives like the Professional Learning Community system, where experienced teachers mentor newer educators, and coaching programmes such as the School Improvement Specialist Coaches Plus, could enhance teaching quality.

The Malaysian Education Ministry has announced curriculum reforms set for 2027, aiming to improve literacy and numeracy while introducing intervention programmes to address school dropout rates.

While these long-term reforms are expected to improve education standards, experts urge immediate action to bridge the tuition gap and ensure equal learning opportunities for all students.