EDUCATION IN THE FIVE MALAY PROVINCES: SINGAPORE MALAYSIA BRUNEI PHILIPPINES AND THAILAND
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study examines the development of educational systems in five regions of the Malay World, namely Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, and Thailand, with a focus on the relationship between education, religion, culture, and colonial influence. The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics, similarities, and differences of educational systems in each region and their role in preserving cultural and religious identity. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach using a literature review and historical analysis of relevant sources. The findings reveal that each region’s educational system has evolved through different historical dynamics. Singapore emphasizes technological modernization supported by a bilingual education policy. Malaysia has developed an inclusive national education system while strengthening Islamic education through pondok and national schools. Brunei Darussalam places Islamic education at the core of its national curriculum through the philosophy of Malay Islamic Monarchy. The Philippines shows a dual system between secular education and Islamic madrasah in Mindanao. Meanwhile, Thailand maintains the dominance of Buddhist-based education alongside the existence of pondok and madrasah in the southern region. This study concludes that educational modernization in the Malay World continues to progress without abandoning traditional and religious values.
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References
A. Sali, A. H., & Ancho, I. V. (2021). Pedagogical reflections of Muslim-Filipino Madrasah teachers: A phenomenological study. Journal of Research, Policy & Practice of Teachers & Teacher Education, 11(1), 25–39. https://doi.org/10.37134/jrpptte.vol11.1.3.2021
Abdul Wahab Syakrani, Abd. Malik, Hasbullah, Muhammad Budi, M. R. M. (2022). Sistem Pendidikan Di Negara Singapura. Adiba: Journal of Education, 2(4), 517–527.
Azizah, L., & Raya, Moch. K. F. (2021). ISLAMIC EDUCATION LEADERSHIP IN CONFLICT STATE: CASE STUDY IN SOUTHERN THAILAND. Jurnal Tatsqif, 19(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.20414/jtq.v19i1.3540
Cahyani, A., & Masyithoh, S. (2023). Kontribusi Pendidikan Agama Islam Dalam Membentuk Karakter Siswa Sekolah Dasardi Era Revolusi Industri 4.0. Al-Rabwah, 17(01), 61–72. https://doi.org/10.55799/jalr.v17i01.253
Devy Habibi Muhammad. (2020). IMPLEMENTASI PENDIDIKAN HUMANISME RELIGIUSITAS DALAM PENDIDIKAN AGAMA ISLAM DI ERAREVOLUSI INDUSTRI 4.0 (Vol. 4, Issue 2).
Dimaukom Kulidtod, Z. (2017). ISLAMIC EDUCATIONAL POLICIES IN THE PHILIPPINES: ITS EVOLUTION AND CURRENT PROBLEMS. In International Research-Based Education Journal (Vol. 1, Issue 1).
Dr. Maroof Bin Rauf, Ms. R. J. (2021). THE ROLE OF EDUCATION SECTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MALAYSIA. Pakistan Journal of International Affairs, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.52337/pjia.v2i1.56
Fitriani, E., Rusydiyah, E. F., Amaliati, S., Doloh, N., & Koowa, F. (2025). Innovations of Integrated Islamic Education in Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities. 13(1). https://doi.org/10.21093/sy.v13i1.8505
Helmiati. (2021). Madrasah Education in Secular, Modern and Multicultural Singapore: Challenges and Reforms. 17(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.21111/tsaqafah.v17i1.6411
Laila, ST. N. F., Mufarokah, A., Anwar, H. S., & Mudhofar, A. (2025). Curriculum Changes in Indonesia: Implementation and its Challenges in Religious Institutions. Journal of Educational Research and Practice, 3(1), 16–31. https://doi.org/10.70376/jerp.v3i1.266
Mandala, G., & Nursikin, M. (2025). PENDIDIKAN ISLAM: UPAYA MERELEVANSIKAN NILAI-NILAI ISLAM DENGAN TANTANGAN MODERNITAS. https://ojssulthan.com/asje
Miles, M. B., Huberman, • A Michael, & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis A Methods Sourcebook Edition.
MOHD HAIDI, & MOHD KASRAN. (2021). Kerangka Akidah dalam Kurikulum Pendidikan Rendah di Malaysia. Jurnal Antarabangsa Alam Dan Tamadun Melayu, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.17576/jatma-2021-0903-01
Nuruliana, C., Syafuri, B., & Kultsum, U. (2025). Transformasi Organisasi Pesantren: Dari Era Kolonial hingga Tantangan Globalisasi. Journal of Education Research, 6(4).
Pitriyati, Nuril, Noviani, D., & Hilmin. (2023). Jurnal Studi Islam Indonesia (JSII) Perbandingan Sistem Pendidikan Islam Brunei Darussalam Dan Indonesia. In Jurnal Studi Islam Indonesia (JSII) (Vol. 1, Issue 1).
Rahman, H. (2025). THE ROLE OF ISLAMIC VALUE-BASED LEADERSHIP IN BUILDING A POSITIVE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE. In SABILUNA: Journal of Islamic Studies (Vol. 1, Issue 1).
Raihani. (2022). ISLAMIC EDUCATION FOR SEA MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY. http://ejournal.uin-suska.ac.id/index.php/asiapacific/index
Raihani, Karim, P., Asyari, S. M., & Mahnun, N. (2016). Delivering islamic studies and teaching diversity in Southern Thai Islamic schools. Al-Jami’ah, 54(1), 123–146. https://doi.org/10.14421/ajis.2016.541.123-146
Rakhman, A. S., & Hidayat, A. (2021). Pembangunan Singapura Sebagai Pusat Perdagangan di Asia Tenggara Pada Masa Gubernur Jenderal Raffles 1819-1820. Fajar Historia: Jurnal Ilmu Sejarah Dan Pendidikan, 5(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.29408/fhs.v5i1.3173
Salaeh, F. (2023). Reviving The Legacy The Role of Islamic Education in Patani, South Thailand. SYAMIL: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam (Journal of Islamic Education), 11(1), 39–59. https://doi.org/10.21093/sy.v11i1.5890
Sali, A. H. A. (2023). Sociological Understanding of Muslim Education in Multicultural Philippines. Dinamika Ilmu, 23(1), 105–122. https://doi.org/10.21093/di.v23i1.6255
Sali, A. H. A., & Marasigan, A. C. (2020). Madrasah Education Program implementation in the Philippines: an exploratory case study. International Journal of Comparative Education and Development, 22(3), 201–217. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCED-06-2019-0034
Shanmugavelu, G., Ariffin, K., Thambu, N., & Mahayudin, Z. (2020). Development of British Colonial Education in Malaya, 1816 - 1957. Shanlax International Journal of Education, 8(2), 10–15. https://doi.org/10.34293/education.v8i2.2072
Sugiyono. (2022). MetodePenelitianKualitatif:untukPenelitianyangBersifat: Eksploratif, Enterpretif, Interaktif dan Kontruktif. ALFABETA.
Supriadi, B. (2023). Potret Sistem Pendidikan Islam Di Filipina. At-Thullab : Jurnal Of Islamic Studies, 4(1), 57–65.
Syarifah Rahmayani, Mislaini Mislaini, & Oktaviana Imroatun Cahyati. (2024). Sejarah Perkembangan Sistem Pendidikan Di Filipina. Hikmah : Jurnal Studi Pendidikan Agama Islam, 1(4), 290–297. https://doi.org/10.61132/hikmah.v1i4.420
Syed Hassan, S. N., Abdul Mutalib, S., Abdullah Chik, N. I., & Mohammad Irwan, N. I. (2024). The Contribution of Madrasah Alsagoff Al-Arabiah in Singapore to Islamic Education. Journal of Quran Sunnah Education & Special Needs, 8(2), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.33102/jqss.vol8no2.214
Wekke, I. S., Ashrori, M., & Hamuddin, B. (2018). Institutional Transformation of Madrasa of Muslim Minority in Thailand. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 4(1), 15–26. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v4i1.1961
Wekke, I. S., Siddin, S., & Langputeh, S. (2019). Islamic Education in Thailand Pattani Muslim Minority: What are the Institutional Continuity and Change? Tadris: Jurnal Keguruan Dan Ilmu Tarbiyah, 4(1), 127–134. https://doi.org/10.24042/tadris.v4i1.3753
Yusuf, Y. S., & Ali, N. (2025). Strategi Pembelajaran Integratif di Pesantren Dengan Menggabungkan Tradisi dan Modernitas. In Pascasarjana Universitas Islam Jakarta (Vol. 3).
Zulazizi Mohd Nawi, M., & Sains Kemanusiaan, F. (2021). SENARIO PENSTRUKTURAN PENGAJIAN ISLAM DI MALAYSIA. In Jurnal Sains Sosial Malaysian Journal of Social Science Jilid (Vol. 6, Issue 1).
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study examines the development of educational systems in five regions of the Malay World, namely Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, and Thailand, with a focus on the relationship between education, religion, culture, and colonial influence. The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics, similarities, and differences of educational systems in each region and their role in preserving cultural and religious identity. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach using a literature review and historical analysis of relevant sources. The findings reveal that each region’s educational system has evolved through different historical dynamics. Singapore emphasizes technological modernization supported by a bilingual education policy. Malaysia has developed an inclusive national education system while strengthening Islamic education through pondok and national schools. Brunei Darussalam places Islamic education at the core of its national curriculum through the philosophy of Malay Islamic Monarchy. The Philippines shows a dual system between secular education and Islamic madrasah in Mindanao. Meanwhile, Thailand maintains the dominance of Buddhist-based education alongside the existence of pondok and madrasah in the southern region. This study concludes that educational modernization in the Malay World continues to progress without abandoning traditional and religious values.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
A. Sali, A. H., & Ancho, I. V. (2021). Pedagogical reflections of Muslim-Filipino Madrasah teachers: A phenomenological study. Journal of Research, Policy & Practice of Teachers & Teacher Education, 11(1), 25–39. https://doi.org/10.37134/jrpptte.vol11.1.3.2021
Abdul Wahab Syakrani, Abd. Malik, Hasbullah, Muhammad Budi, M. R. M. (2022). Sistem Pendidikan Di Negara Singapura. Adiba: Journal of Education, 2(4), 517–527.
Azizah, L., & Raya, Moch. K. F. (2021). ISLAMIC EDUCATION LEADERSHIP IN CONFLICT STATE: CASE STUDY IN SOUTHERN THAILAND. Jurnal Tatsqif, 19(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.20414/jtq.v19i1.3540
Cahyani, A., & Masyithoh, S. (2023). Kontribusi Pendidikan Agama Islam Dalam Membentuk Karakter Siswa Sekolah Dasardi Era Revolusi Industri 4.0. Al-Rabwah, 17(01), 61–72. https://doi.org/10.55799/jalr.v17i01.253
Devy Habibi Muhammad. (2020). IMPLEMENTASI PENDIDIKAN HUMANISME RELIGIUSITAS DALAM PENDIDIKAN AGAMA ISLAM DI ERAREVOLUSI INDUSTRI 4.0 (Vol. 4, Issue 2).
Dimaukom Kulidtod, Z. (2017). ISLAMIC EDUCATIONAL POLICIES IN THE PHILIPPINES: ITS EVOLUTION AND CURRENT PROBLEMS. In International Research-Based Education Journal (Vol. 1, Issue 1).
Dr. Maroof Bin Rauf, Ms. R. J. (2021). THE ROLE OF EDUCATION SECTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MALAYSIA. Pakistan Journal of International Affairs, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.52337/pjia.v2i1.56
Fitriani, E., Rusydiyah, E. F., Amaliati, S., Doloh, N., & Koowa, F. (2025). Innovations of Integrated Islamic Education in Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities. 13(1). https://doi.org/10.21093/sy.v13i1.8505
Helmiati. (2021). Madrasah Education in Secular, Modern and Multicultural Singapore: Challenges and Reforms. 17(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.21111/tsaqafah.v17i1.6411
Laila, ST. N. F., Mufarokah, A., Anwar, H. S., & Mudhofar, A. (2025). Curriculum Changes in Indonesia: Implementation and its Challenges in Religious Institutions. Journal of Educational Research and Practice, 3(1), 16–31. https://doi.org/10.70376/jerp.v3i1.266
Mandala, G., & Nursikin, M. (2025). PENDIDIKAN ISLAM: UPAYA MERELEVANSIKAN NILAI-NILAI ISLAM DENGAN TANTANGAN MODERNITAS. https://ojssulthan.com/asje
Miles, M. B., Huberman, • A Michael, & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis A Methods Sourcebook Edition.
MOHD HAIDI, & MOHD KASRAN. (2021). Kerangka Akidah dalam Kurikulum Pendidikan Rendah di Malaysia. Jurnal Antarabangsa Alam Dan Tamadun Melayu, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.17576/jatma-2021-0903-01
Nuruliana, C., Syafuri, B., & Kultsum, U. (2025). Transformasi Organisasi Pesantren: Dari Era Kolonial hingga Tantangan Globalisasi. Journal of Education Research, 6(4).
Pitriyati, Nuril, Noviani, D., & Hilmin. (2023). Jurnal Studi Islam Indonesia (JSII) Perbandingan Sistem Pendidikan Islam Brunei Darussalam Dan Indonesia. In Jurnal Studi Islam Indonesia (JSII) (Vol. 1, Issue 1).
Rahman, H. (2025). THE ROLE OF ISLAMIC VALUE-BASED LEADERSHIP IN BUILDING A POSITIVE ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE. In SABILUNA: Journal of Islamic Studies (Vol. 1, Issue 1).
Raihani. (2022). ISLAMIC EDUCATION FOR SEA MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY. http://ejournal.uin-suska.ac.id/index.php/asiapacific/index
Raihani, Karim, P., Asyari, S. M., & Mahnun, N. (2016). Delivering islamic studies and teaching diversity in Southern Thai Islamic schools. Al-Jami’ah, 54(1), 123–146. https://doi.org/10.14421/ajis.2016.541.123-146
Rakhman, A. S., & Hidayat, A. (2021). Pembangunan Singapura Sebagai Pusat Perdagangan di Asia Tenggara Pada Masa Gubernur Jenderal Raffles 1819-1820. Fajar Historia: Jurnal Ilmu Sejarah Dan Pendidikan, 5(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.29408/fhs.v5i1.3173
Salaeh, F. (2023). Reviving The Legacy The Role of Islamic Education in Patani, South Thailand. SYAMIL: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam (Journal of Islamic Education), 11(1), 39–59. https://doi.org/10.21093/sy.v11i1.5890
Sali, A. H. A. (2023). Sociological Understanding of Muslim Education in Multicultural Philippines. Dinamika Ilmu, 23(1), 105–122. https://doi.org/10.21093/di.v23i1.6255
Sali, A. H. A., & Marasigan, A. C. (2020). Madrasah Education Program implementation in the Philippines: an exploratory case study. International Journal of Comparative Education and Development, 22(3), 201–217. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCED-06-2019-0034
Shanmugavelu, G., Ariffin, K., Thambu, N., & Mahayudin, Z. (2020). Development of British Colonial Education in Malaya, 1816 - 1957. Shanlax International Journal of Education, 8(2), 10–15. https://doi.org/10.34293/education.v8i2.2072
Sugiyono. (2022). MetodePenelitianKualitatif:untukPenelitianyangBersifat: Eksploratif, Enterpretif, Interaktif dan Kontruktif. ALFABETA.
Supriadi, B. (2023). Potret Sistem Pendidikan Islam Di Filipina. At-Thullab : Jurnal Of Islamic Studies, 4(1), 57–65.
Syarifah Rahmayani, Mislaini Mislaini, & Oktaviana Imroatun Cahyati. (2024). Sejarah Perkembangan Sistem Pendidikan Di Filipina. Hikmah : Jurnal Studi Pendidikan Agama Islam, 1(4), 290–297. https://doi.org/10.61132/hikmah.v1i4.420
Syed Hassan, S. N., Abdul Mutalib, S., Abdullah Chik, N. I., & Mohammad Irwan, N. I. (2024). The Contribution of Madrasah Alsagoff Al-Arabiah in Singapore to Islamic Education. Journal of Quran Sunnah Education & Special Needs, 8(2), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.33102/jqss.vol8no2.214
Wekke, I. S., Ashrori, M., & Hamuddin, B. (2018). Institutional Transformation of Madrasa of Muslim Minority in Thailand. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 4(1), 15–26. https://doi.org/10.15575/jpi.v4i1.1961
Wekke, I. S., Siddin, S., & Langputeh, S. (2019). Islamic Education in Thailand Pattani Muslim Minority: What are the Institutional Continuity and Change? Tadris: Jurnal Keguruan Dan Ilmu Tarbiyah, 4(1), 127–134. https://doi.org/10.24042/tadris.v4i1.3753
Yusuf, Y. S., & Ali, N. (2025). Strategi Pembelajaran Integratif di Pesantren Dengan Menggabungkan Tradisi dan Modernitas. In Pascasarjana Universitas Islam Jakarta (Vol. 3).
Zulazizi Mohd Nawi, M., & Sains Kemanusiaan, F. (2021). SENARIO PENSTRUKTURAN PENGAJIAN ISLAM DI MALAYSIA. In Jurnal Sains Sosial Malaysian Journal of Social Science Jilid (Vol. 6, Issue 1).