Meritocracy, Class Reproduction and Transformation: An Exploration of Elite Government Boarding Schools in Malaysia

The establishment of the government boarding school system in Malaysia in the 1970s was initially rooted in a social objective, aimed at providing educational opportunities to promising secondary students from the Malay ethnic group who constitute the majority of the population. While not initially intended to be exclusive or elite, over the years these schools have gained reputation as elite schools given the selectivity in its admission, outstanding academic and co-curricular achievements, and an extensive network of alumni of Malay elites comprising of individuals in prominent positions in Malaysia's economic and political arenas.

The objective of this presentation is to look at the relatively unexplored world of government boarding schools in Malaysia and how the environment in these schools instil meritocratic values and nurture a sense of privilege and belonging to an exclusive or special group. Studies on class dynamics in Malaysia, especially qualitative, are notably limited, and understanding the relationship between these schools and elite formation would shed light on how they reinforce existing ethnic and class hierarchies.

The presentation draws on a combination of more than 50 in-depth semi-structured interviews with alumni, parents and students, as well as data from school observations. While most studies on elite schooling and class reproduction usually focus on specific schooling period, this presented work shows how class transformation and reproduction take place throughout the schooling continuum - entering, schooling, and leaving. It reveals how the emphasis on hard work and deservingness, allows students internalise meritocratic ideals while benefiting from their privileged positions.