FEWER than half of Malaysians view their national education system in a positive light, according to Ipsos’ 2025 Global Education Monitor, which places Malaysia among the lowest-ranked countries surveyed and behind several regional peers.
The poll, which gathered responses from 500 Malaysians and over 23,000 people worldwide, found only 44 per cent of Malaysians expressing a favourable opinion of the country’s education system. This is significantly lower than sentiment recorded in Indonesia and Thailand.
According to Ipsos, the most pressing concerns among Malaysian respondents were unequal access to education, ageing infrastructure and limited integration of modern technology — issues more commonly associated with developing education systems.
“This calls into question the 13th Malaysia Plan proposal to lower the primary school entry age to six years old,” said Arun Menon, managing director of Ipsos Malaysia. “The real priority is equal access, modern infrastructure and a safe digital environment.”
Public scepticism towards education technology
Only a quarter of Malaysians believe that technology will improve education, trailing regional optimism in Indonesia (42 per cent) and Thailand (36 per cent), though in line with a more cautious global mood.
Nevertheless, Malaysians demonstrated relatively high acceptance of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools. Just 31 per cent supported banning AI tools such as ChatGPT in classrooms, compared to a higher global average.
Public sentiment was far less divided on social media, with 70 per cent supporting a ban for children under the age of 14. Views on smartphones were mixed, with many parents acknowledging their necessity for safety and communication but expressing concerns about content exposure.
The findings align with recent government policy, including a nationwide ban on smartphones in schools for pupils under 13.
Mental health eclipses other education-related concerns
The survey also revealed that youth mental health has overtaken all other education-related concerns among Malaysians. Thirty-seven per cent of respondents identified it as the most urgent issue — well above the global average of 33 per cent.
This surpasses concerns over bullying, social media and even declining education quality. Only 19 per cent cited low education standards or misalignment with job market demands as a primary concern, while just 17 per cent pointed to youth gang activity or violence.
“Mental health now ranks far above any other education-related worry in Malaysia,” said Hasreen Syazana, senior research officer at Ipsos Malaysia, who co-authored the report with Arun Menon and Yuan Wei Loh.
“While social media and AI often dominate public debate, the overriding concern is still the psychological well-being of our young people,” she added.
The Ipsos team recommends that Malaysia’s education reforms prioritise equitable access, safer technological integration and mental health support as foundational pillars for long-term development.
The firm concluded that stronger collaboration between the Ministry of Education (KPM), the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and civil society is essential to ensuring that future education policies build resilience and equity for the next generation. - September 19, 2025
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