STREAMLINING THE EDUCATION SYSTEM - PRESCHOOL MANDATORY FOR 5-YEAR-OLDS

Aug 13, 2026

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim states that preschool will become compulsory from age five to strengthen educational outcomes and improve long-term integration from preschool to secondary education under the Ministry of Education. The plan includes reviewing optimal school hours, assessing specialised schools, and upgrading education models for gifted and talented learners. Measures also prioritise digital literacy and AI basics, expand continuous teacher training, improve recruitment, and raise education quality to international benchmarks.

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STREAMLINING THE EDUCATION SYSTEM

Compulsory preschool from age 5

Education reforms and oversight

TARIKH:01 OGOS 2025(JUMAAT)BERITA HARIAN UTUSAN M’SIAN.STRAITS TIMESTHE STAR[ SINAR HARIAN[ # STREAMLINING THE EDUCATION SYSTEM PRESCHOOL MANDATORYFOR 5-YEAR-OLDS Move will enhanceeducationaloutcomes,says PM KUALA LUMPUR NS⁷ 18·2035 Q. HE government willmake preschool compul-sory from the age of 5 toenhance educationaloutcomes,said Prime MinisterDatuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He added that the governmentwould also review optimal schoolhours,assess the effectiveness ofspecialised schools and improveeducation models for gifted andtalented students. The government aims to place preschool to seconuury education fullyunder the responsibility of the Education Ministry.NSTP FILE PIC "The national education sys-tem will be streamlined to be-come more integrated,effectiveand responsive to future chal-lenges.To this end,the plan is forpreschool to secondary educa-tion to be placed fully under theresponsibility of the EducationMinistry,"he said when tablingthe 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP)inthe Dewan Rakyat yesterday. eracy—including introducing would be intensified to improve their global competitiveness. the basics of artificial intelli-gence—will be prioritised topre-pare a generation ready to meetthe demands of a high-value fu-ture job market.” “Continuous training and up-skilling programmes will be im-plemented to boost the compe-tence and professionalism ofteachers.The teacher recruit-ment mechanism will be im-proved to allowfor openselectionfrom various sources,ensuringopportunities are given to can-didates who are qualified,capa-ble and committed to the edu-cation field." Anwar said the Higher Educa-tion Ministry would coordinatepre-university and higher educa-tion to clarify jurisdictions andenhance policy and implemen-tation efficiency. He added that the quality ofMalaysia's education would beraised to meet internationalbenchmarks to ensure the systemremained competitive and rele-vant. “A National Education Councilhas been established to coordi-nate,monitor and formulate ap-propriate interventions to ensureMalaysia's education system re-mains progressive and world-class.The government will alsoimplement apilot projectto grantselected public universitiesgreater autonomy.” Anwar said Malaysia must notbe content with being a localchampion that failed to make amarkon the global stage. “Emphasis will also be placedon making English a core medi-um of learning and communica-tion,while additional languagelearning will be expanded. “We must collectively work torestore Malaysia's image as aprosperous nation,rich in cultur-al uniqueness and deeply rootedin local values and its historicalheritage." "Strengthening science,tech- He said internationalising pub-lic higher education institutions nology,engineering and mathe- matics education and digital lit-

FAQs

What policy change will take effect for children turning five?

Preschool will be made compulsory starting from the age of 5 to enhance educational outcomes.

How will the government adjust the broader education structure?

The plan is to place preschool through secondary education fully under the Ministry of Education, aiming for a more integrated and responsive system.

What measures are planned to improve teaching and learning quality?

Continuous teacher training and up-skilling will be implemented, teacher recruitment mechanisms will be improved, and the curriculum will prioritise digital literacy and AI basics while raising quality to international benchmarks.

Aug 13, 2026

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