Category Archives: Education

Abdullah Badawi – An Understated and Underrated Leader

Posted on May 8, 2025 by Tricia

This piece that was co-authored with Dr Francis Hutchinson of ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute was first published in Fulcrum on 6 May 2025, here. Abdullah Badawi’s brand melded the best of two worlds, namely rising living standards and technological ambition minus … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Economics, Education, General Politics, Public Administration, Reflections | Leave a comment

Long road to university autonomy

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Tricia

First published in theSun on 8 June 2017 here. LAST week, the minister of higher education said that Malaysia’s public universities are expected to record a rise in the QS World University Rankings this year. If this is true, then … Continue reading →

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In and out of schools

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Tricia

First published in theSun here, on 7 August 2014. AT an IDEAS education-related roundtable held earlier this week, the issue of school dropouts in Malaysia was raised, specifically in relation to the findings of our nationwide survey among the bottom 40% … Continue reading →

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Teaching for Malaysia

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Tricia

(first published in theSun on 1st May 2014) ONE Friday afternoon, I took a break from my office job and went to a school just outside Kuala Lumpur to teach a bunch of pubescent kids. I had hoped that I could … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Language | Leave a comment

The Internet and Political Education

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Tricia

The Internet and Political Education (A version of this was published in theSun, on 2nd November 2012) At a forum on the Internet and citizenship recently held at the Perdana Leadership Foundation, I had the privilege of speaking with Deputy … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, General Politics | Leave a comment

Malaysian education blueprint- Weighing unity against diversity

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Tricia

Malaysian education blueprint- Weighing unity against diversity Photograph: Kwong Wah Yit Poh Nation-building strategies all over the world have education as a central element. Malaysia is no different. However, the multicultural nature of the population means that education has always … Continue reading →

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PTPTN and the lack of Petronas specifics

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Tricia

This was written just as PKR announced its plans to abolish the PTPTN fund. It got me thinking about our national funds. This was published in theSun on 20th April 2012. PTPTN and the lack of Petronas specifics Parti Keadilan … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, Public Administration | Leave a comment

Better than Advanced Nations?

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Tricia

I love a good policy debate and this time it was with our Deputy Prime Minister who had said that the Malaysian education system was superior to those within developed countries. A version of this was published in theSun on … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Outside Malaysia | Leave a comment

Of schooling and the budget

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Tricia

Education is something almost all Malaysians worry about, for good reason – it affects their children’s future, after all! This was published in Selangor Times in October 2011, on what the 2012 Budget would say about education policy. Of Schooling … Continue reading →

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Reversing the brain drain requires a paradigm shift

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Tricia

In this piece, I explored what roles state governments ought to play in reversing brain drain and attracting talent. It’s not enough to rely on the Malaysian Talent Corporation. First published in the Penang Monthly in June 2011. Reversing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, Selangor | Leave a comment