Colonisation, globalisation and a pandemic: developing understandings of inclusive education in Malaysia

This is a theoretical paper that examines how colonisation, globalisation and a crisis such as the Covid-19 pandemic have had a significant influence on the development of inclusive education policy and practice in Malaysia. Drawing on the ideas of dependency from Farid Alatas, and Carol Bacchi’s focus on the identification of the underlying problem within policies, as well as Stephen Ball’s policy cycle, we highlight how global events have repercussions at a policy level now and into the future. This paper contributes to the wider inclusive education debate through the innovative use of these three different theoretical lenses, informed by Asian historical experiences and cultural practices. This is significant as together they emphasise the impact of colonisation, globalisation and a pandemic on the process of inclusive education policy development in Malaysia as we argue for a repositioning of education to recognise learning that goes on outside of the school gates.