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 Education Ministry (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. That is why we said earlier, parents need to identify this, and then the MOE will conduct diagnostic assessments in terms of psychomotor aspects and so on.
"This year, the MOE will set a timeline for the collection of data on six-year-old children nationwide, and parents who find that their children are ready may proceed with the registration process before the children begin schooling in Year One in 2027,” she said at a press conference after the launch of the National Education Blueprint (RPN) 2026-2035 here today.
Earlier, during the launch of RPN 2026-2035, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced 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 next year, 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. The solution is to start with those who are ready first. From the data we collect, only then can we organise preparations, including infrastructure,” she said.
She said 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, and welcomed children who were truly prepared to begin learning earlier than usual.
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. - BERNAMA