马来西亚的华文教育自19世纪初发展至今已有近180年的历史。在这一百多年的历史变迁中,马来西亚华文教育虽受到了种种冲击及阻挠,但华裔先贤极力维护华文教育、捍卫华文教育,才使华文教育屹立不倒,发展至今。目前,马来西亚由华文小学、华文独立中学及华文高等教育学府构成完整的华文教育体系。华文小学发展至今已融入国家教育体系之中,只有华文独立中学(简称独中)、华文高等教育学府仍在国家教育体系之外,未得到政府的任何资助。经华人社团出钱出力筹办和维持独中及华文高等教育学府,才使60间独中及3所华文高等教育学府 Chinese education in Malaysia has been nearly 180 years old since the early 19th century. In the one hundred years of historical changes, despite the various kinds of shocks and obstructions in Chinese education in Malaysia, the Chinese sages tried to defend Chinese education and defend Chinese education so that Chinese education will stand still and develop until now. At present, Malaysia consists of a complete Chinese education system consisting of Chinese primary schools, Chinese Independent Secondary Schools and Chinese higher education institutions. The development of Chinese elementary schools has so far been integrated into the national education system. Only Chinese Independent Secondary Schools (SMCs) and Chinese-language higher education institutions are still outside the national education system and have not received any financial support from the government. Only 60 Chinese and three Chinese higher education institutions have been helped by the Chinese community’s efforts in organizing and maintaining the higher education institutions in Central and Chinese.