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Persekutuan62604 Putrajaya.Tel :03-88846425Faks:03-88846284  \nTARIKH:23 JANUARI 2026(JUMAAT)  \nBERITA HARIAN  UTUSAN M'SIA □ N.STRAITS TIMETHE STAR□SINAR HARIAN□  \n# 6-YEAR-OLDS IN YEAR ONE\n\nOUR CHILDREN ARENOT LAB RATS'  \nEnrolment will bephased,voluntary,accompanied bydiagnostic support,says Fadhlina  \nLUQMAN HAKIM  \nAND HAKIM MAHARI  \nKUALA LUMPUR  \nnews@nst.com,my  \nHE option allowing 6-year-olds to enrol in YearOne is not meant to treatthem as “lab rats”,Ed-ucation Minister Fadhlina Sidektold the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.  \nShe said the voluntary initia-tive,starting from the 2027school session,was aimed at giv-ing children who were cognitive-ly and emotionally ready the op-portunity to begin formal school-ing earlier.  \n“Our children are not lab rats.This is a policy we want to im-plement carefully.That is why itis voluntary and must be accom-panied by diagnostic support.”  \nShe was responding to RoslanHashim(PN-Kulim Bandar Ba-haru),who had asked Fadhlinaabout the rationale behind allow-ing 6-year-olds to enter Year Oneand whether the ministry hadconducted empirical studies orimpact assessments.  \nFadhlina stressed that the stan-dard school entry age remainedat 7,adding that there would beno compulsion on parents ortheir children.  \nShe said the policy was part ofthe National Education Plan2026-2035 under the 13th  \nEducation Minister Fadhlina Sidek says the standard school entry ageremains at 7.BERNAMAPIC  \nSTRATSTIMES-HEAROTHENEWS?Read with me  \nSupported by the Malaysian Communicationsand Multimedia Commission  \ngun optimising school facilitiesand adding classrooms in phaseswhere needed,including throughthe Industrial Building Systemmethod.  \nMalaysia Plan—which had beentabled and debated inParliamentand was aligned with inter-national practice where primaryschooling begins at 6.  \nShe added that in addition toproducing trained teachersthrough education programmes,staffing would also involve spe-cial contract-of-service appoint-ments.  \nTo ensure readiness,she saidthe policywould be implementedin a controlled and gradual man-ner,adding that early childhoodeducation would be strength-ened through the expansion ofpreschool classes.  \nFadhlina said the initiativewould not alter the educationstructure as all pupils would stillcomplete six years of primaryand five years of secondary ed-ucation.,  \nFadhlina acknowledged par-ents'valid concerns of classroomspace and teacher shortages,es-pecially in urban schools.  \nShe said the ministry had be-","cbCaiasWd4zDTkDS","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiasWd4zDTkDS","pdf",1510236,"English","# 6-Year-Olds in Year One\n## Voluntary enrolment and diagnostic support\n## Entry age remains 7 and no parental compulsion\n## Alignment with National Education Plan 2026–2035\n## Controlled, gradual implementation and preschool strengthening","[{\"question\":\"Is enrolment for 6-year-olds in Year One compulsory?\",\"answer\":\"No. The initiative is voluntary and there is no compulsion on parents or children.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of allowing 6-year-olds to start Year One early?\",\"answer\":\"It aims to give children who are cognitively and emotionally ready the opportunity to begin formal schooling earlier, supported by diagnostic assistance.\"},{\"question\":\"Does the policy change the standard school entry age?\",\"answer\":\"No. The standard school entry age remains at 7, and pupils still complete six years of primary education and five years of secondary education.\"}]","6-Year-Olds in Year One - Our Children Are Not Lab Rats | PDF"]