A Review of Racial Microaggression in Malaysian Educational System and Its Higher Education Institutions

Noormaizatul Akmar Muhamad Nasir,Noraini Mohd Nor,Nurul Husna Yaacob,Radzuwan Ab Rashid

doi:10.5430/ijhe.v10n2p151

Abstract

This paper reviews other forms of racial oppression among Malaysian students in the business of their school and campus life day. It begins with a brief demographic background of Malaysia as a pluralistic country together with explanation pertaining to the aspirations of its diverse society. Then, it reviews some literature and findings revealed from previous studies concerning various racial microaggression issues in Malaysia with reference to schools and higher learning institutions. The challenges reviewed in this paper may be relevant to the administrative parties concerned and educational practitioners mandated to manage and train these diverse students. Other than that, this paper also provides insights into the multiracial Malaysians, especially the majority race students concerning the sense of oppression and discontent that their other ethnic peers may feel resulting from the present distinctive practice of ethnic polarisation. This paper argues that microaggression is on the rise among Malaysian youngsters and this problem stems from the environment that shapes their learning landscape.

Highlights

A and B are excellent students in Malaysia who studied with gusto for they knew that only through education could they secure a bright, promising future to escape from their low socioeconomic status
On the basis that racial preferences practice contains within them certain degree of threats despite any safeguarding advantages used to ensure the survival of the diverse ethnic group and the solidarity of the nation, this paper reviews the reality of microaggression among different ethnicities attending schools and higher learning institutions in Malaysia
There have been attempts made by both nonBumiputera and even the Bumiputera groups and individuals for a review of the current policy to evaluate whether it is still relevant to meet the present needs of all Malaysians

Summary

Introduction

A and B are excellent students in Malaysia who studied with gusto for they knew that only through education could they secure a bright, promising future to escape from their low socioeconomic status. The multi-ethnic students in Malaysian national schools tend to stick to their same-race friends than mixing freely with those of different ethnicity origin Over time, such sense of ingroup and outgroup will instigate various issues including those related to racial microaggression (Lino, Hashim & Ricardo, 2017). At a very young age, these children are racially segregated in national and vernacular schools, and they grow up with the notion that they are different and can never group together because they are birds of different feather This culture carries on and the situation remains the same even when they enrol in higher education institutions. On the basis that racial preferences practice contains within them certain degree of threats despite any safeguarding advantages used to ensure the survival of the diverse ethnic group and the solidarity of the nation, this paper reviews the reality of microaggression among different ethnicities attending schools and higher learning institutions in Malaysia

Defining Microaggression

Racial Microaggression in Malaysian School Setting

Racial Microaggression in Malaysian Higher Education Institutions

The Way Forward

Findings

Conclusion