12/01/2026

MONDAY | JAN 12, 2026

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Excitement and nervousness as schools reopen today

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: The 2026/2027 school session for Group A schools in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu began smoothly yesterday. In Kedah, 345,259 students in 753 primary and secondary schools started the session. State Education Department director Abdul Rahim Mat said the total included 199,208 pupils in 548 primary schools and 146,051 students in 205 secondary schools. “A total of 29,004 pupils entered Year One and 28,778 students entered Form One, while 30,674 teachers have reported for duty this year. School operations across Kedah have been running smoothly. “Our main focus this year is to address student dropouts and absenteeism and ensure all students attend school,” he said after visiting Sultan Abdul Hamid College in Alor Setar yesterday. In Kelantan, 333,206 students began across the state. According to the Kelantan Education Department, this included 204,389 primary school pupils and 128,817 secondary school students. Meanwhile, Education Ministry deputy sec-gen (Planning and Development) Datuk Wan Hashim Wan Rahim said SMK Pulau Beluru in Tumpat has been upgraded to become the state’s first Comprehensive Special Education Model School 11 (K11). PETALING JAYA: Schools across Malaysia reopen today after the long holidays with students and parents facing a mix of excitement, nervousness and anticipation. According to the Education Ministry’s academic calendar (2026), the new session begins today for schools in Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya. Meanwhile, in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, almost one million students in Group A schools returned to classes yesterday. While the break offered students a much-needed chance to rest and recharge, returning to the classroom brings both relief and fresh challenges. Parents are particularly focused on their children’s academic preparedness, motivation and overall wellbeing. Alisya (not her real name), whose child is in secondary school, said her child is ready to return to class. “He continued revising during the school break and even started reading his Form 2 textbooks before the holidays,” she said. “This helps him grasp lessons faster when school reopens.” Although confident in her child’s preparation, she expressed concerns about the education system. “The system must improve. It cannot go on as it is. However, on the practical side, the school provided sufficient guidance. Parents started receiving updates from the school last week, which helped us prepare for the reopening.” Other parents shared almost similar views. A mother who only wanted to known as Trisha highlighted the importance of getting students back

hoping that lessons will start from the basics so students can fully understand the material. “I hope we don’t have to rush through subjects before exams. I want to really grasp the topics from the start,” he added. Shivaniya shared a slightly more cautious perspective. “I’m not fully prepared but I’ll catch up. The hardest part was waking up early again and I’m a little worried about homework and tests. But I’m looking forward to having fun and meeting my friends.”

in class. “I’m excited to meet my friends after the long break. I read my Form 2 textbooks during the holidays, so I feel ready for lessons. The hardest part is waking up early again, but I’m really looking forward to playing football and seeing if I’ve improved after training during the break.” Varun admitted feeling both eager and anxious. “I’m excited to see my friends but a bit nervous too. Waking up early and getting back into the school routine is always tricky,” he said,

o After long holidays, families brace for early mornings, fresh lessons and new routines

I hope they manage peer pressure and stay focused despite distractions from friends or social media.” Students also shared a mix of excitement and nervousness about returning to school. Aiman, a secondary school student, said he is looking forward to seeing friends and being back

“The upgrade from the previous K9 category involves phased implementation of additional facilities to address overcrowding without the need to build a new school. “The ministry is focusing on constructing extra blocks such as classrooms and support facilities, which can be completed within six months, compared with building new schools, which can take three to four years.” In Terengganu, 256,822 students in 507 schools started the school session. Education deputy director-general (school operations sector) Zainal Abas said the total included 9,528 preschoolers, 148,886 primary school pupils in 352 schools and 107,936 secondary school students in 155 schools. “This year marks the first implementation of the new preschool curriculum, making preschool pupils the first group to go through it. The pupils will also be the first cohort to use the new school curriculum when they enter Year One in 2027.” Zainal added that students will also benefit from the Supplementary Food Programme (RMT) at the start of the session, helping those who may not have had time or opportunity to eat breakfast. He added that the RMT is one of 18 forms of government assistance for school students and helps meet part of their daily calorie requirements. – Bernama into a structured learning rhythm. “After the holidays, it’s really about starting the syllabus from the beginning instead of rushing through everything at the last minute before exams.” She hopes teachers will focus on steady, comprehensive teaching throughout the year. “My biggest hope is that teachers cover the syllabus from the start so children can truly understand their subjects. My concern is that if lessons fall behind early, it could make learning stressful later.” Working mother, Sheila said the transition back to school is a shared challenge for students and families alike. “To be honest, my children are a bit reluctant. They enjoyed the holidays too much, so getting back to early mornings is going to be tough. “For me, waking up early to send them to school and then head to work is going to be hard too.” Beyond routines, she stressed that motivation and mental health are factors that should be seriously looked into. “I hope my children stay motivated, keep up with studies, and feel happy and safe at school. Mental health is as important as grades.

Parents weigh in on return of exams PETALING JAYA: National Pupils of SK Gong Tok Nasek in Terengganu starting their first day yesterday. The 2026 academic year begins today for schools in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya, Labuan and nine other states. – BERNAMAPIC

Smooth start for education hubs in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu

combining exams with projects and continuous assessment, supporting students’ mental health and keeping parents informed. “At the end of the day, the goal should be to help kids grow and enjoy learning, not just stress about marks.” Another parent, Darren Lew echoed these views, saying national exams provide a clear academic benchmark. “While school-based assessments are helpful, national exams show where my child stands. They highlight strengths and areas for improvement.” He also saw the structure provided by exams as a positive form of pressure. “They teach discipline, time management and focus. With proper guidance, national exams can be motivating rather than overwhelming.” Lew added that any revival should focus on making the exams more balanced and holistic, emphasising critical thinking and problem-solving over rote memorisation. “Clear guidance from teachers before exams would also help students prepare confidently without stress.” The Education Ministry has activated the National Education Advisory Council to study the need to revive UPSR and PT3. Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the review responds to parental demand for national exams. The matter will be discussed thoroughly, she said. – By Kirtinee Ramesh

and PT3 should focus on assessing student performance, not penalising schools or teachers. “These exams must be a tool for the Education Ministry to provide guidance and support, rather than just ranking or punishing students and educators.” Another parent, Nanthini shared a similarly positive outlook, highlighting the benefit of national exams as a benchmark. “They give a standard measure so you can see how your child is doing compared with other students in schools across the country. Right now, with school-based assessments, it can be hard to tell whether good grades are due to a child excelling or because of more lenient marking.” She added, however, that exams are not the only measure of learning. “Some kids don’t do well under pressure but shine in projects, presentations or continuous classwork. If exams come back, they should complement the current system and be part of how we measure learning.” Nanthini also acknowledged that exams can be stressful but stressed the importance of balance. “Exams do create pressure, but a little structure and accountability isn’t bad. They should guide and motivate learning, not make children feel like their whole future depends on a single test.” She suggested improvements if the exams are reintroduced, including reducing rote memorisation,

examinations could be back in Malaysian schools and parents are speaking out on what it would mean for their children. UPSR was abolished in 2021 and PT3 in 2022, replaced by school-based assessments to reduce exam stress and foster continuous learning, but many parents say the new system does not always reflect true student performance. Many parents expressed support for a return to national exams, saying they could provide a clearer measure of their child’s academic abilities. Adlina, whose child is in secondary school, said the current school-based assessment system has not always reflected her son’s progress. “I’ve even noticed some teachers just copy and paste comments, which don’t show whether my son is excelling or barely scraping by.” She believes national exams could offer a more accurate picture of a student’s performance. On the debate over whether national exams added pressure, Adlina sided with those who see them as providing structure and accountability. “At least students know what it takes to do well in their studies. Right now, my son has the ‘no worries’ attitude when preparing for school exams. “My fear is that it will be too late for him to take SPM seriously if this continues.” She added that any revival of UPSR