ECO VOCATIONAL ACADEMY AS SUSTAINABLE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM FOR ORANG ASLI IN HULU LANGAT, SELANGOR

Abstract

Education is essential for success in a globalised world, yet marginalised communities such as Malaysia’s Orang Asli face significant barriers due to culturally irrelevant curricula, inadequate facilities, and systemic misalignment with their traditional values. This research explores sustainable education approaches for the Orang Asli, with three key objectives: (1) to identify strategies that attract Orang Asli to education, (2) to determine suitable curriculum components for this community, and (3) to develop a sustainable education framework that supports their long-term potential. Employing interviews, field observations, and literature reviews, the study underscores the importance of culturally responsive and environmentally sustainable educational models. The findings reveal that familiar environments, locally adapted curricula such as the Kurikulum Asli dan Penan, and the use of indigenous materials enhance engagement and learning outcomes. The study highlights the value of aligning educational systems with local culture and ecology to promote inclusive, equitable development offering actionable insights for educators and policymakers addressing indigenous education globally.