One of my most vivid memories of being in Kolej Yayasan UEM, an A-Levels educational institution tailored for the country's 'cream of the crop', was when my Ganu accent slipped out of my mouth at a bomboloni stall.
"Nak bomboloni blueberry se."
"Se? Yayasan Terengganu ke?"
"No, I'm from PNB."
I find it quite amusing how people first assume that I would be a Yayasan Terengganu scholar, just because I am from Terengganu. I mean, in some ways, it does make sense, considering that the only state-based scholarships in KYUEM are Yayasan Sabah, Yayasan Johor, and Yayasan Terengganu. Unfortunately, my batch does not have a Yayasan Terengganu scholar in KYUEM.
While I count with my fingers how many of my batchmates are from Terengganu, the counting does not leave my first hand. This then poses the question: "Wait, where are my statemates?"
The absence of students from Terengganu in an institution like KYUEM is not just a mere coincidence. It reflects a much larger issue - educational inequality between the East and West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
Tapi, bakpe do? (But, why though?)
A recap from Form 3 Sejarah:
Historically, the British heavily invested in the West Coast due to its grand economic potential in tin mining and rubber plantations, leading to a quicker urbanisation and infrastructural advancements. The East Coast, however, remained largely agrarian, with less focus on developing infrastructures, including educational institutes.
What about today?
Even today, the West Coast continues to house the majority of the country's top-performing schools, private institutions, and universities. Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Melaka, and Penang are home to premier international schools, MRSMs, SBPs, while the East Coast lags behind in both quantity and quality of elite education (Terengganu does not even have its own matriculation centre!) The disparity is further exacerbated by factors such as limited access to quality teachers, fewer advanced STEM facilities, and lower English proficiency rates.
What does this mean?
For many East Coast students, access to better (or international) education means having to move westward, a journey that is not financially or emotionally feasible for everyone. Talk about choosing an 8-hour bus journey or a RM150 flight ticket! The consequence? A cycle where those who can afford to leave (or are lucky enough to seize a scholarship) do so, while those who cannot are left with fewer opportunities, widening the already existing gap.
Other than infrastructure?
Beyond infrastructure, the disparity also lies in exposure. Students in urbanised West Coast areas are often more accustomed to English-speaking environments, international competitions, and diverse extracurricular activities, all of which contribute to holistic education (or a well-rounded CV :P). Meanwhile, many in the East Coast grow up in a more localised environment, making the transition to competitive academic institutions far more challenging. Even now, my alma mater just started participating in Terengganu STEM competitions, something I did not manage to join during my years of study there.
Hah? Pastu nok buat gane? (Huh? Then what do we do?)
What can we do to bridge this gap? Should there be more government investment in elite institutions in the East Coast? But what about those in daily schools? Should there be targeted programs to ensure more East Coast students get the opportunity to attend top schools? Money is needed for a comprehensive education, how would everyone get an equal chance? Or should we rethink the centralisation of education itself? Hmm.
I don't have all the answers, but one thing is certain: talent exists everywhere, and geography should not be the deciding factor in who gets better social development, better education.
By the way, I have a Harvard interview coming up soon. Anyone who stumbles upon this mere blog post, do pray for me. Thanks.
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