Education minister says early Year One entry from 2027 prioritises child welfare and readiness, not academic competition, addressing public concerns
KUALA LUMPUR: The early entry of six-year-olds into Year One starting in the 2027 school session is not aimed at creating academic competition.
Minister of Education Fadhlina Sidek said the policy is instead based on child welfare, wellbeing, and readiness levels.
The main focus of its implementation is to ensure children’s rights and interests are protected through a holistic assessment.
This assessment covers emotional, cognitive, and learning skill aspects, not merely the factor of age.
“This is not about racing and our purpose is to emphasise foundations according to the pupil’s development stage and not about accelerating academic learning,” she said in the Dewan Rakyat.
Fadhlina was responding to a supplementary question from Roslan Hashim (PN-Kulim Bandar Baharu).
He had raised public concerns, including social media polemics, about the rationale for implementing the policy.
He also questioned the level of engagement sessions with stakeholders and the possibility of social pressure on parents.
“Our children are not for tests or lab rats, that is why we stress that in this context we want to give focus because it is a policy that we have discussed and debated in the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13),” Fadhlina added.
She stressed that entry at age seven remains the standard schooling pathway, with no compulsion on parents or children.
The country’s education structure will remain unchanged, with all students undergoing six years of primary and five years of secondary education.
She assured there would be no extension of the schooling period or negative impact on the overall educational pathway.
Replying to a supplementary question from Aminolhuda Hassan (PH-Sri Gading) on readiness, Fadhlina said every policy requires comprehensive preparation.
The MOE has conducted early mapping to identify states and schools with high expected demand.
Proactive steps include hiring contract teachers and planning for additional classrooms where needed.
“Our development division is also prepared to carry out all projects closely related to the construction of these additional classrooms,” she said.
