Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the option for six-year-olds to enrol in Year One is not intended to treat children as “lab rats”, stressing that the initiative would be implemented carefully and on a voluntary basis.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, she said the policy, which will begin from the 2027 school session, is meant to give children who are cognitively and emotionally ready the opportunity to start formal schooling earlier.
“Our children are not lab rats. This is a policy we want to carry out cautiously. That is why it is voluntary and supported by diagnostic assessments,” she said.
Fadhlina was responding to a question from Roslan Hashim (PN-Kulim Bandar Baharu), who sought clarification on the rationale behind allowing six-year-olds to enter Year One and whether the ministry had conducted empirical studies or impact assessments.
She emphasised that the standard school entry age would remain at seven, with no compulsion for parents or children to participate.
The policy forms part of the National Education Plan 2026–2035 under the 13th Malaysia Plan, which has been tabled and debated in Parliament. She added that the move aligns with international practices where primary education typically begins at age six.
To ensure readiness, Fadhlina said the initiative would be implemented in a controlled and phased manner, alongside efforts to strengthen early childhood education through the expansion of preschool classes.
She acknowledged concerns from parents regarding classroom capacity and teacher shortages, particularly in urban areas, and said the ministry has begun optimising school facilities and adding classrooms in stages, including through the Industrial Building System method.
In terms of staffing, she said the ministry would continue producing trained teachers through education programmes and supplement this with contract-of-service appointments.
Fadhlina added that the initiative would not change the existing education structure, as students would still undergo six years of primary and five years of secondary schooling.
