CREDIT Development Seminar: Kian Ong (University of Nottingham, Malaysia)

The effects of languages of instruction on educational and labour market outcomes: Evidence from Malaysia (with Rasyad A. Parinduri)

Abstract: Until 1970, English-instruction is available in the primary and secondary education of Malaysia. An ethnic riot in 1969 pushes the government to replace English- with Malay-instruction, the national language to foster national identity. We exploit this exogenous variation in languages of instruction which fits a fuzzy regression discontinuity design. We find that having English as language of instruction raises earnings later in life; we further explore some pathways through which languages of instruction matter: we find that English-instruction enhances the access to white-collar jobs and on-the-job training, improves English proficiency and increases educational attainment.