Preschool to be made compulsory for five-year-olds under 13MP

Hakim Mahari, Luqman Hakim, Iylia Marsya Iskandar, Zaf Seraj

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Type :	Newspaper Clipping
Subject :	Institusi Pengajian Tinggi
Main Author :	Hakim Mahari, Luqman Hakim, Iylia Marsya Iskandar, Zaf Seraj
Title :	Preschool to be made compulsory for five-year-olds under 13MP

Place of Production :	Pekan
Faculty :	New Straits Times
Year of Publication :	July 31, 2025
HTTP Link :	Click to view web link
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KUALA LUMPUR: The government will make preschool education compulsory from the age of five to enhance educational outcomes, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said the government would also review optimal school hours, assess the effectiveness of specialised schools, and improve education models for gifted and talented students. "The national education system will be streamlined to become more integrated, effective, and responsive to future challenges. "To this end, the plan is for preschool to secondary education to be placed fully under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education," he said when tabling the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in the Dewan Rakyat today. Anwar said the quality of Malaysia's education would be raised to meet international benchmarks, based on assessments such as Pisa (Programme for International Student Assessment) and TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study), to ensure the system remains competitive and relevant. "Emphasis will also be placed on making English a core medium of learning and communication, while additional language learning will be expanded. "Strengthening STEM education and digital literacy, including introducing the basics of Artificial Intelligence (AI), will be prioritised to prepare a generation ready to meet the demands of a high-value future job market." Anwar said the Higher Education Ministry would coordinate pre-university and higher education to clarify jurisdictions and enhance policy and implementation efficiency. "A National Education Council has been established to coordinate, monitor, and formulate appropriate interventions to ensure Malaysia's education system remains progressive and world-class. "The government will also implement a pilot project to grant selected public universities greater autonomy, strengthening the governance of higher learning institutions." He said efforts to internationalise public higher education institutions would also be intensified to improve their global competitiveness. "Continuous training and upskilling programmes will be implemented to boost the competence and professionalism of teachers, who are the backbone of our education system. "The teacher recruitment mechanism will be improved to allow for open selection from various sources, ensuring opportunities are given to candidates who are truly qualified, capable, and committed to the education field." Anwar said Malaysia must not be content with being a local champion that excels only on home ground but fails to make a mark on the global stage. "Therefore, we must collectively work to restore Malaysia's image as a prosperous nation, rich in cultural uniqueness and deeply rooted in local values and its historical heritage."

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