PETALING JAYA: Lowering the starting age for preschool and Year One could improve early education but the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) warns it risks overburdening schools and teachers if not carefully phased.
NUTP secretary-general Fouzi Singon said while the move is positively received, attention must focus on teacher supply, student welfare and overall system quality.
“Training graduates from the teachers’ training institutes can take up to five years. Careful human resource planning should be implemented in stages, if not it could worsen the current teacher shortage.”
Fouzi nevertheless, expressed gratitude to the prime minister for allocating RM100 million to upgrade staff rooms in five primary and five secondary schools, urging that selection of schools follow clear criteria to ensure fairness.
He also commended the government’s approach in resolving debates over the Bahasa Malaysia and History subjects, saying it could strengthen national unity and clarify education policy direction.
On the introduction of the Year Four examination, Fouzi described it as a wise move that allows early remediation and strengthens foundational skills in STEM, Bahasa Malaysia, English, Science, Mathematics and History before students reach secondary school.
“Emphasis on Years Five and Six is crucial. These stages should build literacy, numeracy, self-confidence, discipline and critical thinking to prevent learning gaps from persisting into secondary school,” he said, adding that a review of the English curriculum and teaching methods would boost student confidence and mastery in vocabulary.
