According to a study to better understand why Malays are over-represented in the Normal (Technical) stream, it found that regardless of race, the reasons students in general end up in this stream in the school system here include having a poor command of English, being late bloomers, or that they are just hands-on learners. The study also debunked the negative labels attached to Malay students in the stream. The results of these findings were announced by SMU Associate Professor of Political Science John Donaldson, who is the study’s primary researcher, during a webinar on Sept 1. The four-year-long “process tracing” study – a form of qualitative research that seeks to develop and test theories – was a collaboration with the Centre for Research on Islamic and Malay Affairs. It involved 105 students aged between 18 and 33 who had completed the Normal (Technical) stream. Of the 105 people, 53 were Chinese, 47 were Malay and five were Indian.