The 1969 racial riot in Kuala Lumpur served as a historical landmark in the development of Malaysian education, as it raised concerns about the state of national unity in the country. Subsequently, education was coupled with the socioeconomic restructuring of Malaysian society in line with the New Economic Policy (NEP) that commenced in 1970. However, the changes delivered under the NEP also deepened the natural divides in a multiracial society. Conditions became more challenging in the face of globalization and the need for continued economic development. In the past decade, specific policies have been put forth to foster racial unity at the school level, including the Vision School, the Student Integration Plan for Unity, and Civic and Citizenship Education. But it is becoming obvious that they will produce positive results only if a concerted effort is made to incorporate inclusivity and multiculturalism into the national education agenda.
Keywords: Education policy, Cultural diversity, National unity, Inclusion, Malaysia
