MALAYSIA’S Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 mathematics results are alarming and demand urgent action, not selective celebration. Malaysia’s score fell to 397 points, from 409 in 2022 and 440 in 2018. Only 35% of Malaysian 15-year-olds reached Level 2 proficiency, compared with 65% across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.
PISA does not measure academic results alone. It assesses whether students can apply what they learn to real-life situations, making it an important indicator of the reasoning, problem-solving and practical skills needed for work and a high-productivity economy.
The situation is even more worrying at the top end. Only 0.6% of Malaysian students achieved Levels 5–6, compared with 8% across the OECD. We have good students, but too few of them. This tiny pool represents the talent that will ultimately drive Malaysia’s productivity, innovation and competitiveness.
We need to ask: How much of this limited talent does Malaysia actually retain? Some may pursue their education through parental support or government and private scholarships, and end up migrating. Developing talent is only part of the equation; creating the conditions for that talent to contribute to Malaysia’s future is equally important.
The Education Ministry needs to act decisively:
1. Launch a National Mathematics Recovery Plan within 90 days, with measurable targets for 2028 and 2030.
2. Make Level 2 the national minimum floor, ensuring every child masters essential numeracy, reasoning and problem-solving.
3. Introduce early diagnostic assessments and targeted remediation for students falling behind.
4. Strengthen mathematics teaching through better teacher training, professional development and classroom support.
5. Publish transparent outcome data and direct resources to schools with the greatest learning gaps.
Malaysia can ill-afford another cycle of promises. The time to rebuild our mathematics capability and expand the pool of high-performing Malaysian talent is now.
Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon
MCA Education Consultative Committee Chairman
MCA Deputy President
