Perbandingan Sistem Pendidikan Indonesia Dan Malaysia Dalam Meningkatkan Kualitas Sumber Daya Manusia

Abstract

Education is one of the key determinants of human resource (HR) development in a nation, making the quality of a country's education system a critical factor in its global competitiveness. This study aims to analyze and compare the education systems of Indonesia and Malaysia, covering aspects of educational levels, curriculum, education policy, management, and their contribution to improving the quality of human resources in both countries. This research employs a qualitative approach through library research, with data drawn from legislation, official policy documents, and relevant scientific journal articles, analyzed using comparative content analysis. The findings show that Indonesia applies a more decentralized education system with curriculum flexibility through the Kurikulum Merdeka (Independent Curriculum), emphasizing equitable access through formal, non-formal, and informal education pathways. In contrast, Malaysia implements a more centralized system under the Ministry of Education Malaysia, emphasizing national integration through a unified language of instruction, stronger technical and vocational education (TVET), and a structured evaluation pathway from UPSR to STPM. Both countries have distinct strengths and weaknesses—Malaysia excels in policy consistency and vocational education, while Indonesia excels in inclusivity and learning flexibility. Nonetheless, both nations continue to face similar challenges, including regional disparities in education quality and the need to strengthen teacher competency. This study is expected to contribute insights for both countries to learn from one another in enhancing the quality of their national education systems to produce more competitive human resources at the regional and global levels.