The Impact of Language of Instruction in Schools on Student Achievement: Evidence from Malaysia Using the Synthetic Control Method

Yew Chong Soh, Ximena Del Carpio () and Liang Wang

No 9517, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: This paper employs the synthetic control method to examine the impact of using a non-native language as the medium of instruction in schools on a student’s learning. Exploiting an unanticipated policy change in Malaysia and using data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Studies, the results show that changing the medium of instruction negatively influenced eighth graders’ achievement in mathematics and science. The differential performance, by year and gender, suggests that using a non-native language throughout a student’s schooling may have greater negative impact on the student’s learning than switching the language of instruction in the middle of the student’s schooling does. This paper sheds light on the various manners in which a language policy can adversely affect a student’s learning outcomes. It also highlights how the transition in switching the language of instruction in schools can be implemented more effectively to mitigate its adverse effects.

Keywords: Education For All; Education for Development (superceded); Educational Populations; Educational Policy and Planning - Language of Instruction; Educational Institutions&Facilities; Effective Schools and Teachers; Educational Sciences; Gender and Development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-01-20
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-sea and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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