Early Year One Entry Policy Draws Positive Response From Educators, Parents

By ROZAINAH ABDUL RAHIM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- The move to allow early entry into Year One for children aged six (5+) beginning the 2027 school session is timely, as Generation Alpha is exposed to cognitive stimulation at a much earlier stage than previous generations.

Teacher Fathizaki Rifin, 33, said the policy gives due recognition to children who are advanced learners,  allowing them to be assessed based on actual mental and intellectual readiness rather than biological age alone.

He said the early entry initiative aligns well with the implementation of the 2027 School Curriculum, which is more flexible and competency-based.

“This does not mean shortening childhood, but rather structuring an education pathway that allows ready pupils to complete schooling earlier, potentially by the age of 16. This, in turn, strengthens the nation’s human capital competitiveness at a younger age,” he told Bernama.

Fathizaki, who teaches at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Lukut in Negeri Sembilan, said a key strength of the policy is that it is optional rather than mandatory, giving parents autonomy while ensuring decisions are supported by the Diagnostic Screening Test set by the Ministry of Education (MOE).

“My advice to parents is to use this opportunity only if their child is truly ready emotionally and socially, not just academically. Teachers are prepared to receive them, but the child’s readiness is the key factor in ensuring the success of this initiative,” he said.

Meanwhile, many parents have expressed positive views on allowing children to enter school earlier.

Nur Natasha Aida Ismail, 38, said early entry enables earlier intervention, allowing a child’s abilities to be identified through diagnostic assessments.

“Diagnostic tests are important to avoid overcrowding in Year One classes with six-year-olds at the same time. At the same time, it helps children adapt to the real school environment that they will eventually experience,” she said.

The mother of one also said early school entry could help guide a child’s development onto the right path from as early as six years old, noting that many children today demonstrate cognitive abilities beyond their chronological age.

Sharing a similar view, Mohd Salorwadi Mohd Nor, 50, said he believes children are capable of coping with Year One learning as early as six years old.

“As a father with children in Year One and Year Five, I feel this is appropriate as our education system has progressed. My child in Year One is not afraid to go to school and has built a close relationship with teachers.

“I do not need to wait at school as my child was already accustomed to a learning environment after attending childcare from an early age,” he said, adding that early exposure helps children adjust more easily.

“From an educational perspective, this initiative helps prevent loss of interest caused by repetitive preschool content and supports early talent development by producing more competitive, confident students who can complete their schooling a year earlier without compromising academic quality,” he said.

Separately, Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Education Department, Student Talent Development Unit assistant director Mohd Hamdan Ab Hamid, described the early entry initiative as a positive step in recognising diverse cognitive abilities among pupils.

He said many children today display intellectual and emotional maturity beyond their chronological age and can be further challenged through a more dynamic syllabus.

“From an educational perspective, this initiative helps prevent loss of interest caused by repetitive preschool content and supports early talent development by producing more competitive, confident pupils who can complete their schooling a year earlier without compromising academic quality,” he said.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, during the launch of the National Education Blueprint 2026–2035, announced that from 2027, children aged six would be allowed to enter Year One, subject to parental choice.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek was also reported as saying that the initiative is voluntary, flexible, and only for parents and pupils who are ready.

-- BERNAMA