More non-Chinese children enroll in Chinese schools

In a statement by Radzi Jidin, Minister of Education, he said this year there are more Malay and Indian children enrolled in Chinese vernacular schools citing an upward trend in data with the enrolment of Malay students increasing from 9.15% in 2010 to 15.33% in 2020.

At the same time, there is also an increase of Indian students from 1.67% to 2.75%, and students of other races from 1.02% to 1.67%.

In a response to a question by Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PH-Setiawangsa), the minister said the percentage of enrolment of Chinese students in Chinese vernacular schools indicated a decrease from 88.16% in 2010 to 80.25% in 2020.

However, for private schools, Chinese students make up the majority with 65.88%, followed by Malays and Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak with 26.96%, Indians with 4% and other races with 3.17%.

According to the minister, the participation of Malay students (in private schools) showed an increase of 0.65% whereas Chinese students showed a 0.44% decrease and Indian students showed a 0.21% decrease compared with 2019.

Meanwhile, Chinese and Indian students’ enrolment in national schools dropped from 1.17% to 0.73% and 3.15% to 2.63% in the past 10 years, with Malay students’ enrolment between 93% and 94%.