Malaysian Indian youths see education system as source of discrimination, Iman Research report finds

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — A new Iman Research report has revealed that Indian youths in Malaysia perceive the education system as a primary source of discrimination, rather than a means to achieve social mobility. The study, titled The Kita Orang Sini Juga – Indian Youth Report, highlights the experiences of social alienation and institutional bias faced by students throughout their schooling, often at the hands of educators.

According to a 2021 survey by youth movement Sekolah Semua, nine out of ten Indian students reported experiencing discrimination due to their ethnicity. Of these, 73% cited discrimination from peers, while 74% experienced similar treatment from teachers.

The report, based on interviews with 111 Indian youths nationwide, documented cases where educators, who are supposed to provide mentorship, were found to reinforce negative stereotypes and make students feel unwelcome. One student recounted being denied a leadership position and consistently feeling inadequate by their teachers. Another shared an incident where a Bahasa Malaysia teacher used derogatory language, distinguishing between Indian students based on their perceived behavior.

These experiences could leave students feeling isolated and pressured to engage in "respectability politics," where they feel compelled to behave exceptionally well to avoid negative generalizations about their community. The report also pointed out the matriculation quota system as a structural barrier for Indian youths seeking higher education, with limited places and inadequate resources contributing to frustration among respondents from various states.

Furthermore, the report highlighted concerns over access to mother-tongue education and questioned the assumption that national schools foster unity. Indian students, the report noted, continued to encounter segregation and "ingroup-outgroup" dynamics, which may be learned from their surroundings, including parents and teachers, as early as kindergarten.

The report concluded that failing to protect students from discriminatory behavior risks normalizing racism and undermining young people's confidence in institutional fairness. This, in turn, could shape how they perceive their political influence and place in Malaysian society.