Educating the ‘Orang Asli’ (Native People) of Malaysia in the Eyes of Orang Asli Teachers

Abstract

Tales of indigenous peoples being disenfranchised from modern life and marginalised from formal education to the world of work within various social spheres are nothing new. Even in more developed nations, it is problematic for some indigenous peoples to adapt to the lifestyles of the majority population, what more in developing countries where social justice is low and indigenous peoples in the name of development and modernity are left to fend for themselves. Centring on Malaysia’s Orang Asli population, a qualitative study was conducted to map the field prior to a large-scale academic inquiry for the next two years at the Royal Belum State Park in the state of Perak, Malaysia. Four Orang Asli teachers in Perak state were interviewed individually to gather 'thick' qualitative data about the current state of the Orang Asli population in formal education (in primary and secondary schools). This empirical project is very interested in three main topic areas. First, how formal education and the schooling cycle play a part in the lives of children and adolescents living in Orang Asli communities. Second, what Orang Asli teachers and other educators do to ensure that Orang Asli children and adolescents benefit from their primary and secondary educational experience. And third, where is the position of non-formal or informal education within Orang Asli’s lifespan development, specifically for Orang Asli children and adolescents, as they face growing challenges in sustaining their traditional lifestyle.