26/01/2026

MONDAY | JAN 26, 2026

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Private kindergartens call for postponement of Year 1 plan

Ű BY T. C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Private Early Childhood Educators Coalition has called on the government to postpone the implementation of the policy requiring children to enter Year 1 at the age of six under the National Education Plan 2026–2035. While welcoming the government’s aim to strengthen national education standards and improve early learning outcomes, the coalition also urged for a one-year transition period to give private kindergartens time to adjust, along with pilot projects and formal consultations with private operators. “The government should postpone Year 1 entry at age six and allow at least one year for a proper transition,” a coalition said in a statement. “Pilot projects should be conducted before nationwide enforcement, and there must be formal consultations with private

o Group supports reform goals but raises concerns over readiness and lack of formal consultations kindergarten operators to ensure the changes are implemented smoothly. “The structural changes are expected to have significant implications for the private kindergarten and preschool

Kemas curriculum to be revamped: Zahid BAGAN DATUK: Kindergartens under the Community Development Department (Kemas) will continue their role in educating three to four-year-old children in line with the National Education Blueprint 2026-2035, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Zahid, who is also minister of Rural and Regional Development, said the curriculum for the Tabika and Tadika kindergartens under Kemas, as well as the Unity kindergartens, will be revamped to ensure continuity into the preschool classes for five-year-olds under the Education Ministry. “Last Friday’s cabinet meeting decided that the ministry will coordinate preschool education, whereby five-year-olds are required to attend classes in national schools and schools under the ministry,”he told the media after the groundbreaking ceremony for QL Inno Food Parks Bagan Datuk here yesterday. – Bernama It also proposed a special licensing framework and a dedicated department under the Education Ministry to oversee kindergartens, childcare centres and care facilities. “The coalition is committed to working constructively with the government to ensure that education policies are implemented in a planned, inclusive manner that does not compromise industry stability or the well-being of children,” it said. The group is expected to submit its recommendations to the prime minister today. the sector. It said policy clarity is essential to preserve education quality, warning that uncertainty could lead to higher staff turnover and loss of experienced teachers. “The introduction of academic pressure and early assessment for those as young as five has the potential to place emotional stress on children, create anxiety among parents and shift the focus of early childhood education away from holistic development towards purely academic achievement,” the group added. On religious education, the coalition said kindergartens play a formative role, particularly for Muslim children. “Early transition into Year 1 without completing this foundational phase of early education risks disrupting the continuity of character development and identity formation,” it said. The group also warned that enrolment could decline sharply, leaving kindergartens with only four year-old pupils and increasing the risk of closure if the deferment is not carefully managed. Besides calling for the postponement, the coalition recommended pilot projects before nationwide implementation and formal consultations with private kindergarten operators.

five-year-old child, said early exposure to formal learning helps children build strong academic foundations and gain self confidence at an earlier stage. “The earlier children are exposed to learning, the better and faster they can adapt to future educational challenges. “Having moved from Year 3 to Year 5 when I was growing up, I found that it helped strengthen my knowledge, align with my potential and build strong self-confidence.” Amirah however, said the success of the policy hinges on parents’ commitment to ensuring their children are fully prepared for their studies. The move is also in line with the National Education Blueprint 2026 2035, which emphasises a humanistic value framework, mastery of new technologies, and the strengthening of students’ academic, social and self-confidence skills. – Bernama kindergarten operators. It said an impact study on workforce, operational and financial implications was also not done. Last week, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek was reported as urging parents not to panic over the entry of Year 1 at age six in 2027, stressing that only children deemed ready through a special assessment will be selected. She said the ministry would conduct diagnostic tests to evaluate factors such as the child’s psycho-emotional state. She said parents should remain calm as this would be an optional reform, not mandatory and placement will be based on the child’s readiness, not parental choice. Industry stakeholders met in Cyberjaya on Saturday to assess the announcement and its potential effects on private operators. Following the meeting, the coalition – comprising kindergarten operators, association representatives and other stakeholders – formed a social media group which had 516 members as of press time. The group expressed concerns over daily preschool operations, business sustainability, children’s learning environments and the practical and financial impact on parents. “Private kindergartens have long served as the backbone of children’s preparation before entering government schools. This sudden change has disrupted student enrolment planning, affected class structures and teacher–student ratios, and created operational and financial uncertainty for thousands of private kindergartens,” it said. The coalition estimated that Malaysia has more than 8,000 registered private kindergartens employing over 100,000 teachers, the majority of whom are women who have built long-term careers in

ecosystem nationwide,” the group said in a statement. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced last Tuesday that, starting next year, children would enter Year 1 at six instead of seven, as part of the government’s broader education reform agenda. The move, which is optional, aims to provide structured learning earlier and align Malaysia’s education system more closely with international standards. However, the coalition noted that the policy was unveiled without a clear transition plan and formal consultation with private

‘Early enrolment builds confidence, foundations’ KUALA LUMPUR: Voluntary enrolment of Year 1 pupils at age six (5+) is viewed as a comprehensive approach that takes into account students’ development and potential, amid growing exposure to technology. on the shared responsibility of key stakeholders. preschool programmes at six that emphasise socio-emotional development and play-based learning,” said Azlina. National Parent-Teacher Associations Consultative Council (PIBGN) president Datuk Dr Private kindergarten operators said clearer implementation details are needed to ensure the Year 1 at six policy is carried out smoothly and without disrupting the early childhood education sector. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN

Drawing on the experience of countries such as Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand, which have long adopted the approach, the lecturer at the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology said age was not the determining factor, but the extent to which the education system supported student readiness and provided an effective learning environment. “This is not an unusual practice. In the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, children begin formal education at the age of five through transitional programmes like Reception (the first mandatory year of primary school for children aged 4 to 5) or kindergarten before entering the first year of school. “Meanwhile, countries such as Finland and Sweden begin formal schooling at the age of seven, but provide high-quality compulsory

Describing the policy as centred on individual potential and grounded in developmental psychology, Prof Dr Azlina Mohd Kosnin of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said chronological age should not be the only factor in assessing a child’s development. “Children develop at their own pace and some show early maturity in certain aspects. From this perspective, the policy provides opportunities for children who attain early maturity while ensuring those who need more time are not left behind,” she told Bernama. Azlina said the policy was a proactive step to strengthen education competitiveness and develop quality human capital, but stressed that its success depended

Muhammad Ali Hassan said the implementation of the policy was a suitable and dynamic step towards comprehensively overcoming pedagogical gaps in education, especially at the preschool level. “We can see an educational gap among children aged five to seven, particularly in terms of curriculum and preschool approaches – there are differences in content, infrastructure and teacher training. “Therefore, adjustments must be made to ensure all children receive adequate education. We do not want any group to be overlooked when entering primary school with insufficient academic, emotional or psychological readiness,” he said. Amirah Alam, 35, a mother of a