Education Ministry announces 2023/2024 school session dates

PETALING JAYA: The academic calendar for the 2023/2024 school session will run from March 19, 2023 to March 9, 2024 for Group A and March 20, 2023 to March 10, 2024 for Group B.

The Education Ministry said in a statement on Saturday (Dec 10) that the decision to push the school session from March 12 (Group A) and March 13 (Group B) 2023 is to ensure that the SPM examination can be carried out smoothly.

Group A are states of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, while Group B comprises the states of Selangor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak and the three Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.

“The school session for the Academic Calendar Session 2023/2024 is maintained in March 2023 to ensure that the ministry complies with the Education (Terms, Days and School Holidays) Regulations 1998 (Amendment) 2021,” said the ministry.

It added that the Regulations state that the number of school days in the academic calendar must not be less than 190 days.

The ministry then said that it is also looking into returning the school session to January by gradually shortening school holidays from 2023 until 2026.

It added that it also took note of suggestions from several parties to return the start of the school session to January.

“The ministry is of the view that this can be implemented by gradually shortening school holidays starting from 2023 until 2026 with compliance with the number of school days in the academic calendar,” said the ministry.

“However, taking into account the welfare of teachers, students and the impact on the national economy, the ministry has decided to postpone this proposal to minimise the impact on the relevant parties,” it added.

The ministry also said that it will also look into the account of various views to avoid the SPM exams from being held in November and December which clashes with the monsoon season.

“Conducting the SPM exam in the monsoon season can cause stress not only for the teachers and exam staff, but also for the students and parents involved,” said the ministry

“When the SPM is held in February or March, the waiting period for the candidates concerned to enter the university will also be shorter than before,” it added.

The 2023/2024 Session Academic Calendar can be downloaded via the ministry’s website at www.moe.gov.my/takwim.