Indigenous parents' perception of the effectiveness of formal education in malaysia

Background and Purpose: Parents play a crucial role in children's educational attainment. Their perception influences their action in giving better formal education to their children. However, the scenario is different for the Indigenous community in Malaysia where formal education is deemed least important and there is a huge gap for Indigenous education attainment compared to the stream population. This paper aims to elucidate the parent perception of formal education effectiveness among the Indigenous community or Orang Asli (in the Malay language) in Terengganu, Malaysia. Methodology: The research using qualitative methods involved three Indigenous villages in the state of Terengganu. Data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions and observation. The informants consisted of Indigenous parents, teachers and the officers of the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA). Findings: Results showed that parents' perceptions are generally stereotyped and unable to stimulate students' interest. The common problem in teaching and learning is related to parents' educational background, socioeconomic background, expectations, marital age, surrounding condition and awareness.Contributions: This study has given the real picture of Indigenous parents' perceptions toward formal education. The implications of Indigenous parents' education problems are significantly associated with degrading interest among students in education, issues of attendance and students' academic performance.