Education minister says early year one entry for six-year-olds is not mandatory, with parents and diagnostic assessments determining readiness for 2027 start
PUTRAJAYA: The early admission of six-year-old children into Year One will be implemented flexibly, as it is not mandatory and will only involve parents and pupils who are ready, says Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
She said parents needed to assess their children’s readiness before school registration, while the Ministry of Education (MOE) would conduct diagnostic assessments to identify the basic educational level and specific needs of each pupil.
“This is important because if a child is not psychologically and emotionally ready, we do not want there to be an impact on the child,” she said at a press conference after the launch of the National Education Blueprint (RPN) 2026-2035.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced earlier that beginning in 2027, children aged six may enrol in Year One, although it was not mandatory and subject to parental discretion.
Commenting on concerns over a possible influx of pupils and school infrastructure issues, Fadhlina explained that the implementation would be carried out in phases, prioritising children who were truly ready.
“Parents’ concerns would certainly be about infrastructure. When a larger cohort enters Year One, infrastructure will naturally become a key issue,” she said.
She said the solution is to start with those who are ready first, with preparations organised based on collected data.
The existing cohort of seven-year-old pupils will continue as usual, while the addition of six-year-olds into Year One will be based on data and school readiness.
She also advised parents not to panic, but instead to assess their children’s readiness together with the MOE.
According to Fadhlina, teachers will also be allocated according to pupils’ needs, and all preparations will be undertaken to ensure a smooth transition for children into primary school.
