Education: Orang Asli Students’ Perspectives

Abstract

The Orang Asli, indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia, have historically struggled to access education due to factors like geographic isolation, language barriers, and economic hardship. Efforts by the government and non-governmental organizations aim to improve educational opportunities for Orang Asli communities. Initiatives include school construction, bilingual education, and cultural sensitivity in curricula. Despite all progress, ensuring equitable access to quality education remains an ongoing priority to empower Orang Asli youth while preserving their unique cultural heritage. Orang Asli pedagogy refers to the teaching and learning methods and approaches used in education for indigenous Orang Asli communities in Peninsular Malaysia. Given the unique cultural and linguistic characteristics of these communities, Orang Asli pedagogy emphasizes eight key principles namely story sharing, map learning, non-verbal, symbols and images, land links, non-linear, deconstructing/reconstructing, and community links.