TS 21.09.2026 TUITION CENTRE RULES UNDER SCRUTINY - Overview of the proposed review and concerns

Q: What change is the Ministry of Education planning for tuition centre ownership rules?

The Ministry plans to propose a review of the ownership structure requirements for tuition centres at the Cabinet meeting this week.

Q: What is the current bumiputra equity requirement mentioned in the document?

Private tuition centres in Malaysia must comply with a 30% bumiputra equity requirement, or they risk losing operating licences from 2027.

Q: Why does Tan Sri Lee Lam Toye say the proposal needs careful consideration?

He notes many tuition centres are small, neighbourhood-based businesses run by educators with modest budgets, and he warns strict equity requirements could place an unnecessary burden on them.

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Clementine

The document reports that the Ministry of Education will propose a review of ownership structure requirements for tuition centres at the Cabinet meeting. The rules are detailed in the Private Education Institutions Policy Book (published 2006) and relate to a current 30% bumiputra equity requirement, which may affect operating licences from 2027. It highlights public debate and concerns from operators and social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Toye, who argues the proposal needs careful consideration and could burden small, neighbourhood-based centres.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

SEKTOR DOKUMENTASI PENDIDIKAN BPPDP, Kementerian Pendidikan Aras SB-4, Blok E8, Kompleks E, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan 62604 Putrajaya. Tel : 03-8884 6425 Faks : 03-8884 6284 TARIKH : 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (ISNIN) SERITA HARIAN CJ UTUSAN M'SIA CJ N. STRAITS TIMES D THE STAR _J2J SINAR HARIAN D 􀀜TUitiOtl ,:,:CEi'DtfetrU􀀝l,􀀞sjtl ndet .s· -...::.::•• :􀀈.'(u, {,)•􀀂,,_ -<1.n_.., /y􀀎 􀀏 Miriistfy-􀀩 t¢ tfropose. review of<30%· . bumip􀀪tra 􀀫􀀬 qwity􀀭·:require811ent ' - By FARIK ZOLKEPLI and LOW CO SIN new7SKUAsdeskLA L􀄓.:cTo'mhe. •Scation Ministry will propose a review of the ownership structure requirements for tuition centres at the. Cabinet meeting this week. It said the requirements are detailed in its Private Education Institutions Policy Book, published in "2006 . "We take note of the various views raised regarding the requirements and remain open to hearing the views of all parties," it said in a statement. · , [Th](The-ministry said the.education)[e](The-ministry said the.education)[-](The-ministry said the.education)[ministry said the](The-ministry said the.education)[.](The-ministry said the.education)[education](The-ministry said the.education)[ ](The-ministry said the.education)sector should remain open to all parties wishing to contribute to the development and education of Malaysian children. "' - It added that it values the con tributions of tuition centre operators1 and would continue working · with_ all parties in the· interest of 􀄖 education. · - r. '° The statement came amid con- - cem􀄘 o_ver existing re􀄙emen!s goverrung the ownership struc-: ture of tuition centres. _ Under the current require- , ments, private tuition centres in Malaysia must comply with. a 30% bumiputra equity requirement or risk losing their operating licences from 2027. · · i.. The requirement has spat1erate on modest budgets, founded by people who want to help students keep pace with schoolwork, build confidence and reach their poteJ;J.tial," he said in a statement yesterday. He said the centres serve families across _communities, often offering classes at rates afl'.ordable to ordinary households., Lee said 􀄞posing strict equity ownership requirements on such are other : ways to achieve this small busine􀄔ses could place an ., without imposing · mandatory. unnecessary and disproportion- ownership requirements. • ate burden on operators. _ ''The relevant ministry could ''Unlike _large commercial enti- focus · on empowering educators ties, they do not-have the resourc- through government-backed · es to restructure ownership [or](or . training)[ .](or . training)[ training](or . training) programmes, start-up navigate . complex regulatory -􀄗 grants an\! accessible resouri:esJ requirements," he noted. "These measures would directly He also cautioned ·that the pro􀄚 posed rules could force established, community-focused tuition centres to close or scale back their op·erations, resulting in fewer learning options for students and removing an important support system for families. Lee said if the policy objective is to increase bumiputra participation in th_e education sector, there encourage mor􀄛bumipu􀄜a teachers to open therr own tuition centres, building participation fn;im thegroundup, ratherthan through mandatory rules,"he said. ,j Lee also urged policymakers to protect small independent tuition centres from regulations intended for larger businesses, so they could continue providing affortlab:e educational s􀄟pport.􀄠 .

FAQs

What change is the Ministry of Education planning for tuition centre ownership rules?

The Ministry plans to propose a review of the ownership structure requirements for tuition centres at the Cabinet meeting this week.

What is the current bumiputra equity requirement mentioned in the document?

Private tuition centres in Malaysia must comply with a 30% bumiputra equity requirement, or they risk losing operating licences from 2027.

Why does Tan Sri Lee Lam Toye say the proposal needs careful consideration?

He notes many tuition centres are small, neighbourhood-based businesses run by educators with modest budgets, and he warns strict equity requirements could place an unnecessary burden on them.

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Clementine