* Poor quality teaching: Ineffective instruction, lack of subject matter expertise, outdated methods, and failure to engage students.
* Biased or inaccurate curriculum: Materials that promote stereotypes, misinformation, or a limited and skewed perspective of the world. This can include historical inaccuracies, the exclusion of diverse voices, and the promotion of harmful ideologies.
* Unhealthy learning environment: Schools with high levels of bullying, harassment, discrimination, or violence. A lack of support for students' emotional and mental well-being also falls under this category.
* Lack of resources: Insufficient funding, outdated technology, inadequate facilities, and a shortage of qualified teachers all contribute to a poor learning experience.
* Overemphasis on standardized testing: A focus on high-stakes testing at the expense of critical thinking, creativity, and holistic development. This can lead to rote learning and a narrow curriculum.
* Systemic inequalities: Disparities in access to quality education based on factors such as race, socioeconomic status, gender, or disability.
Essentially, "mal education" encompasses any educational practice or system that fails to adequately support the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of learners, potentially leaving them worse off than before. It's the opposite of effective and beneficial education.