List of 127 Best Schools in Malaysia (2026 Fees)

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A mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cultural influences, Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy located in Southeast Asia. It has a population of 33.57 million (2021) and a 94.6% adult literacy rate. The vibrant country is a great education hub in Southeast Asia, as most schools in Malaysia are free for primary and secondary levels.

Which are the best schools in Malaysia?

Schools in Malaysia are governed by the Ministry of Education (MOE). Meanwhile, the higher education sector is governed by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).

The Malaysian education structure can be divided into pre-tertiary and tertiary education levels. The pre-tertiary is divided into 3 levels:

Preschool (age 4 to 6)
Primary (6 years)
Secondary (5 years)

Six years of primary education is compulsory, followed by five years of secondary education. Students can study for free during those levels. After completing secondary education, students will take the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.

What are the types of school curricula in Malaysia?

There are different kinds of schools in Malaysia which follow different curricula:

Government schools or public funded national schools (Malaysian national curriculum and national examination)
Government-aided schools or national-type primary schools (Malaysian national curriculum and national examination)

Government-aided schools in Malaysia include the following:

Chinese national-type primary schools (Chinese is the medium of instruction)
Tamil national-type primary schools (Tamil is the medium of instruction)
Private-funded schools (Malaysian national curriculum and national examination)
Independent Chinese secondary schools (6-year curriculum developed by Dong Jiao Zong; students will take a standardized examination known as the United Examination Certificate; Chinese is the medium of instruction)
Foreign system schools or international schools

Where are the best schools in Malaysia located?

Find the top schools in Malaysia near you: Alor Setar George Town Ipoh Iskandar Puteri Johor Bahru Kuala Lumpur Malacca Penang Island Petaling Jaya Seremban Seri Kembangan Shah Alam Subang Jaya Sungai Buloh.

Below is a comprehensive list of all schools in Malaysia (Federal Territories, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri, Kajang, Kedah, Alor Setar, Melaka, Penang, George Town, Butterworth, Perak, Ipoh, Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sarawak, Kuching, Miri, Seremban, Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Shah Alam, Sungai Buloh, Putrajaya, Petaling Jaya, Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, State Sabah).

Edarabia showcases all private schools in Malaysia through which parents can filter by tuition fees, curriculum, rankings & ratings. There are many public, private and charter schools near you that cater to both expat and local students.

Depending on the level of education; kindergartens (pre-schools), primary, secondary and high schools will all have varying tuition fees. Most K-12 schools offer different curriculums and extra-curricular activities to support the intellectual and physical wellbeing of students. Admissions for the top international schools in Malaysia tend to have waiting lists so it is recommended that parents apply well in advance to secure a spot for their children. Additionally, each school has ratings based on parent reviews and are ranked below accordingly.

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