Education ministry to propose review of tuition centre ownership rules

The education ministry will submit a proposal to the Cabinet to review the ownership structure for tuition centres.

This comes after concerns were raised over a requirement for tuition centres to have 30% Bumiputera equity for licence renewals in 2027.

“The ministry believes that the education sector should remain open to all parties who wish to contribute to the development and education of Malaysian children.

“The ministry will submit a proposal to review the provisions relating to the ownership structure of tuition centres for consideration by the Cabinet next week,” it said in a statement this morning.

It said it took note of the views raised regarding the provision, and remains open to hearing the views of all parties.

It also expressed its appreciation to tuition centre operators for their contributions over the years, adding that it will continue to work with all parties to further develop the education sector.

The issue came to light earlier this week after Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung said a ministry guideline purportedly required tuition centres to have 30% Bumiputera equity for their licences to be renewed next year.

Lee called on the ministry to explain the basis for the requirement and consult tuition centre operators, as well as provide clear guidance on its implementation.

The Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) and independent scholar Sharifah Munirah Alatas criticised the requirement and urged the ministry to drop it.

Magpie president Mak Chee Kin questioned whether it was fair to require existing businesses, some of which had operated for decades, to give up 30% of their ownership to continue operating.

Sharifah said the policy risked racialising the education sector and argued that it would not necessarily encourage genuine Bumiputera entrepreneurship.