A Malaysian educationist argues diagnostic tests for five-year-olds entering school early are unfair, favour affluent families and violate public education principles.
PETALING JAYA: Diagnostic or screening tests to determine whether children as young as five or six can enter school are unfair and violate the principles of public education, said an educationist.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Institute for Inclusive Development and Advancement Malaysia (Minda) deputy director Dr Anuar Ahmad said diagnostic or screening tests are only meant to identify students’ needs, not to discriminate against them.
“In fact, the term ‘diagnostic test’ is inaccurate in this context. What is actually being referred to here is a selection test that functions as a discriminatory sorting practice.”
Anuar also questioned the logic of testing children as young as five for school eligibility, saying that assessing whether they can enter Year One based on the 3Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic) is inappropriate, as these children have not yet begun formal education and their foundational skills should not be measured at this stage.
“Based on emotional stability? Children who will take the test are only five years old. No child development theory can confirm that five-year-olds possess emotional stability.
“Based on cognitive ability or thinking skills? At age five, children’s cognitive development is still in the early stages. Their thinking is still concrete and their abilities are strongly influenced by family background, parents’ education and access to resources like gadgets, the internet and books.
“Clearly, such eligibility tests would favour children from high-SES (affluent) families. What about children from very poor families?”
Anuar stressed that implementing diagnostic or screening tests, which are actually eligibility tests, is unfair to children aged five.
“Public education must be inclusive and cannot, under any circumstances, be exclusive.”
He said denying six-year-old children the right to enter school while some others are allowed to enrol contradicts the principles of educational justice, increases educational gaps and disregards the National Education Philosophy.
“This is a serious violation of the principles of equitable access to education and efforts to close the educational gap. It is, in fact, a denial of the basic educational rights of all children who have reached the age eligible for school enrollment.”
On Wednesday, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced that starting in 2027, children aged six (5+) may enter Year 1 a year early under a new optional scheme, provided they pass a diagnostic assessment.
This is part of the Malaysia Education Plan (2026–2035), which allows parents to enrol children who are ready for primary education sooner than the standard entry age of seven.
Fadhlina said the initiative is not new and has been adopted in other countries to help children enter the workforce earlier and address challenges of an ageing population.
She emphasised that the policy is strictly optional and will not be rushed.
Early entry will be based on diagnostic screening results and parents’ choice and only children who have attended preschool at age five (4+) and pass the assessment will be eligible.
Admission into Year One at age seven remains the standard pathway and most students are expected to follow it. Students entering Year One early will not repeat the grade or extend their schooling.
The 2027 curriculum will maintain foundational learning in literacy, numeracy and core skills, with lessons adapted to students’ cognitive development. The ministry also stressed that preparations are being carried out in phases and not rushed.
