Fadhlina Sidek: Only Students Who Pass MOE’s Screening Test Can Enrol in Standard 1 at Age 6

A special diagnostic screening test will be introduced starting in the 2027 school session to assess the eligibility of children seeking to enter Standard 1 as early as six years old.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said that only children who meet the required criteria and successfully pass the diagnostic assessment will be offered admission. She added that parents must register their children in advance to take the screening test this year, with further details on its implementation to be announced later.

The children involved must achieve certain limits in the test, including in terms of psycho-emotional and prescribed skills.

Fadhlina clarified that enrolling children in Standard 1 at age six will remain optional

Fadhlina also explained that parents need not panic as enrolling children in Standard 1 at age six is not compulsory.

“Parents, don’t panic, that’s the most important thing. You have to stay calm and see this as a reform in the education system,” she said in a press conference today (21 January), and through her social media post.

She added that such an approach is not new, as it has already been implemented in other countries. However, while parents are given a choice, the decision is not left entirely to them alone. It depends on the child’s readiness and, most importantly, support from the Ministry of Education through a diagnostic assessment process.

For illustration purposes only

The location and more details of the diagnostic test will be revealed on an unspecified date.

Yesterday (20 January), Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim unveiled his 10-year plan for the National Education Plan 2026-2035 (RPM), in which Bahasa Malaysia and History subjects are now compulsory for students of all streams. You can click here and here to read more about the RPM.

What do you think of sending the children to preschool at the age of 5?

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