SPEED UP ENGLISH PLAN ROLL-0UT' - news report - PM 2023-2028 timeline

Aug 13, 2026

Policy rollout timelines for Malaysia’s English proficiency strengthening were accelerated: a decision in 2023 must launch and be implemented in 2024, with national rollout by 2025. Trials are expected during 2026–2027, and wider implementation should start by early 2028 rather than waiting for later approval. The prime minister links reform success to measurable public impact and urges expediting all reforms while balancing Bahasa Malaysia alongside the English plan. Experts stress reducing urban-rural gaps through localized approaches and updated curricula.

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SPEED UP ENGLISH PLAN ROLL-0UT'

2023-2028 rollout timeline

3PBI measures and teacher development

Urban-rural gap and localized curriculum

Union views on syllabus and early exposure

TARIKH:13 FEBRUARI 2025(KHAMIS) N.STRAITS TIMES THE STAR BERITA HARIAN UTUSAN M’SIA SINAR HARIAN # SPEED UP ENGLISH PLAN ROLL-0UT' Policy approved in 2023 should have beenimplemented in 2024,not 2028,says PM would be planned in 2024,fi-nalised in 2025.Trials would takeplace in 2026 and 2027,and onlyby early 2028 would we start theimplementation. SHAHRUL SHAHABUDIN AND HAKIM MAHARI PUTRAJAYA news@nst.com.my NST 131212S G3 PRIME Minister Datuk SeriAnwar Ibrahim has toldthe Education Ministry tospeed up efforts tostrengthen English proficiencyamong students. "We cannot afford to have sucha plan—that is the old approach.Instead,if we make a decision in2023,its launch and implemen-tation must take place in 2024.By2025,it shouldberolled out at thenational level,"he said in hisspeech at the Finance Ministry'smonthly assembly. He said the full implementa-tion of the policy should not haveto wait till 2028,as the cabinethad agreed to it in 2023. Anwar said all of the govern-ment's reforms must be expedit-ed to prevent Malaysia fromfalling behind other nations. He acknowledged the complex-ities in implementating policiesbut warned that using the “oldsystem”would cause Malaysia tolag behind other countries. "If we follow the usual projec-tions,the timeline would looklike this:our decision in 2023, He said the success of the re-forms could only be measured bytheir impact on the people. "I recognise that,over the pastyear or two,efforts have indeed been intensified,and all ministryleadershave carried out their du-ties to the best of their ability. "However,we must rememberthat the ultimate measure is howthe majority of the people benefitfrom the reforms we are dis-cussing,"he added. In 2023,Anwar had called foran increase in English proficien-cy among school students start-ing in 2024,but stressed that thegovernment would not compro-mise on Bahasa Malaysia as thenational language. In response,the EducationMinistry introduced the EnglishLanguage Education Empower-ment Plan (3PBI)to strengthenoral communication and ad-vanced reading skills of students. Deputy director-general of Ed-ucation (school operations sec-tor)Zainal Abas had said 3PBIwould also improve English lan-guage teachers through profes-sional development and skilltraining courses. Anwar's call was met with ap-proval from experts. Universiti KebangsaanMalaysia Centre of Educationand Diversity senior lecturer DrAnuar Ahmad said the govern-ment must reformthe implemen-tation of its English proficiencypolicy to address the vast gap be-tween urban and rural students. He said English proficiencyvaried significantly across differ-ent regions,with students in ur-ban areas having greater expo-sure to the language comparedwith their rural counterparts. “English is not a critical issue inmajor cities as many studentsspeak the language at home.However,for children in rural ar-eas and remote villages,Englishis rarely used in daily life,makingit much harder for them to adaptwhen they start school,"he toldthe New Straits Times. Annuar said a uniform syllabusfor all schools could not cater tothe needs of students from difer- ent backgrounds. "The same curriculum is usednationwide,but students in urbanareas have a head start,whilethose in rural communities strug-gle with basic vocabulary.Weneed amorelocalised and dynam-ic approach to address this gap.” The National Union of theTeaching Profession said the gov-ernment must overhaul the En-glish syllabus to focus on com-munication skills,vocabulary,and national values. NUTP secretary-general FouziSingon said the current syllabusleaned .more towards grammarproficiency. "If we look at the current text-books,all the values taught areimported from the West-ev-erything from Cambridge isadopted 100 per cent without in-corporating Malaysian values.” He also urged education ex-perts to explore methods of fa-miliarising primary school pupilswith English from an early age.

FAQs

What timeline did the prime minister propose for the English proficiency policy rollout?

The decision should be made in 2023, with launch and implementation in 2024, national rollout by 2025, trials during 2026–2027, and start of implementation by early 2028.

How does the Education Ministry plan to strengthen students’ English skills?

The Education Ministry introduced the English Language Education Empowerment Plan (3PBI) to improve oral communication and advanced reading skills, along with professional development and skill training for teachers.

Why do experts say current approaches may not work equally for all students?

They highlight a major urban-rural gap in exposure to English, arguing that a uniform syllabus and curriculum cannot address differing needs and starting vocabulary levels.

What changes did the teaching profession union call for in the English syllabus?

It urged overhauling the syllabus to emphasize communication skills, vocabulary, and national values, saying the current materials lean heavily toward grammar and imported Western values.

Aug 13, 2026

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