Realignment marks symbolic milestone for education system, signalling return to stability after Covid-19 pandemic
KUALA LUMPUR: The school year will officially resume its traditional January commencement with effect from next year, marking the final step in the Education Ministry’s post-pandemic transition back to the original academic calendar.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced this yesterday, confirming that the 2026 academic year for national and government-aided schools would run from Jan 11 to Dec 31 for Group A states, and from Jan 12 to Dec 31 for those in Group B.
She said the new calendar, available for download via the ministry’s portal, restores the pre-pandemic rhythm of the school year after several adjustments were made to accommodate disruptions caused by Covid-19.
She added that the realignment reflects the ministry’s long-term plan to return to a consistent schedule familiar to students, parents and teachers.
Fadhlina said the gradual return to the January–December schedule has been carried out “in a phased and orderly manner” without disrupting school operations, showing the result of meticulous planning, ongoing reviews and unwavering commitment from educators nationwide.
“This effort reflects the ministry’s firm resolve to prioritise the wellbeing of pupils, teachers and the wider school community.
“We wanted to make sure the transition was smooth and did not cause unnecessary stress for schools or families,” she said.
The ministry first announced in 2023 that the academic calendar would gradually revert to a January timeline by 2026, following years of term shifts that saw schools reopening as late as March.
During that period, academic sessions were repeatedly adjusted to make up for the months lost during pandemic lockdowns, resulting in overlapping terms and shortened breaks.
Education Director-General Datuk Pkharuddin Ghazali previously said the curriculum would remain unaffected despite the realignment, adding that lessons had been structured to ensure pupils could complete the syllabus as scheduled.
With the official schedule available online, parents, teachers and students could now plan their activities and holidays more effectively as the school year returns to familiar settings.
A parent, who asked to be known only as Christopher, said reverting to the January roster makes a lot of sense, especially in terms of planning and coordination.
“It is important and good to get the school term back to the pre-Covid era. It aligns everything at the start of the year. Many parents will breathe easier after this announcement. We can now better manage matters involving our children’s education,” the 50-year-old businessman said.
He added that when school terms kept shifting, it was difficult to even plan for family holidays or extracurricular activities.
For 13-year-old Awwal, the change is welcome and timely.
“I think it is fine. Otherwise, it is confusing for my parents to plan my studies and sports activities. The constant changes affected our family holidays. The goalposts kept moving and even I (was affected),” he said.
The return to the January school year marks a symbolic milestone for the education system, signalling a return to stability after years of adjustments and uncertainty brought about by the pandemic.
