Penang, one of the largest cities in Malaysia, was once known as Pulau Pinang or the Pearl of the Orient. The city is rich in culture, history, and diversity. Moreover, the town boasts of an exemplary education system as well as being the home to some of the oldest public schools in Malaysia.
Penang’s education system mirrors that of the overall country, which, according to the PISA ranking, has improved significantly since 2018. Moreover, students in schools in Penang perform above average in Mathematics, reading, and science, according to OECD reports.
The education system is divided into the following stages:
Children start attending preschool from the age of four years, although it’s not compulsory. Nevertheless, most children attend preschool in either public or private kindergarten schools. Generally, preschool education is governed by several agencies, including the Ministry of Education (MOE), as well as other public agencies.
Public preschools are run by the administration of national schools and are accessible to all students regardless of education level or social standing. On the other hand, the alternative of public schools in Penang gives priority to low income-earning parents.
Although the government offers free education in public schools in Penang, it is yet to declare it compulsory. Generally, primary education starts at the age of six years and lasts for six years. Year one to three is known as level one, while years four to six are referred to as level two. Level one focuses on helping the students develop strong reading and writing, as well as mathematical skills. Level two focuses on the mastery of level one skills as well as building a foundation in basic science. Students are allowed to progress to the next level, whether they perform well academically or not. Once the children reach their final year in primary school, they sit for the Primary School Achievement Test.
There are two categories of public schools in Penang, which include:
All primary schools admit students regardless of their race or background. Furthermore, the oldest English speaking school in the country is the Penang Free School. The language of instruction in most schools in the city is Malay, but learning English is compulsory.
Secondary education lasts for five years and is divided into two stages, lower secondary level (first three years) and the upper secondary level (fourth and fifth year). Similar to primary schools, students in secondary school progress to the next class irrespective of their academic performance. However,
students who reach form five sit for the Malaysian Certificate of Education Examination before graduating from secondary education.
Edarabia showcases all private schools in Penang 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 Penang 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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