Most schools in Malaysia are ready to welcome six-year-old pupils entering Year One in 2027, with infrastructure projects completed ahead of schedule, according to Education Minister YB Fadhlina Sidek.
Speaking at the Ministry of Education’s monthly assembly, Fadhlina said preparations have not only focused on school facilities but also on teacher placements to ensure schools are fully prepared for the new intake.
She added that she and the ministry’s secretary-general, Datuk Wan Hashmin Wan Rahim, will visit a few completed schools to inspect the facilities and review the overall preparations.
Registrations Still Ongoing
Fadhlina said the ministry was still receiving enquiries and Year One registrations as of yesterday. She expressed confidence that the 2027 intake process would run smoothly and continue to improve in the coming years.
“We hope the progress for the 2027 intake will proceed smoothly, and we are confident that in the years ahead it will become even more streamlined, better organized and supported by far more comprehensive preparations,” she said.
Earlier this year, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh announced that the move to admit children into Year One at the age of 6 had received a positive response.
Speaking on 3rd March, he said the ministry received 351, 789 applications from parents from the 2026 Year One intake. Fadhlina also announced that the ministry will launch it’s school reform programme next week, with 10 schools in every district nationwide selected as pilot schools.
Under the programme, each district will choose 5 primary schools and 5 secondary schools. Each selected school can receive up to RM100,000 to carry out initiative based on it’s own needs.
Fadhlina stressed that education reform is not simply about adding new facilities or technology to schools. She said installing air conditioners in every classroom or providing smart boards alone does not represent meaningful reform.
Instead, she explained that real reform is about changing the culture, improving the education ecosystem and encouraging a new mindset among teachers, students and the wider school community to help schools reach their full potential.
Sources: NST
