IPOH: Parents of five-year-olds are torn over whether to send their kids to Year One next year.
Personal assistant Ashley Chiam, in her 40s, said there is not enough time to gauge her daughter’s readiness to enter primary school, as registration starts in March.
“There are barely two months to see if she is ready, so it’s stressful for me and my husband to make a decision.
“Her kindergarten class started two weeks ago, and she is only now learning the syllables.
“Her writing is still a mess. I don’t think she is ready for Year One,” she said, adding that the current Year One syllabus could be tough even for some seven-year-olds, as there are many words that they have yet to learn.
She said kindergartens are usually split into two terms to prepare children for Year One.
“Are kindergartens now expected to cram all the learning into one year to prepare the children? Do not treat our children like guinea pigs. Allow this year’s five-year-olds more time so that we can gauge them, as we want the best for our children,” she said.
On Jan 20, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that children can enter Year One at six starting in 2027.
The move, however, is not compulsory in its initial year. Parents would be given a choice to defer it if they feel their children are not ready, he had said during the launch of the National Education Plan 2026-2035.
Currently, children begin primary school when they turn seven.
Administrative worker Peggy Moo, 38, is also worried that her daughter may not be ready for Year One.
“There are still some basic things she doesn’t know.
“I am now mulling whether to send her for tuition classes to get her ready for primary school, which will incur more costs.
“The one positive from this move is that I could save on the kindergarten fees for one year,” said the mother of three.
Parent Action Group for Education (Page) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said the rollout feels rushed.
“When registration begins in March, parents are given very little time to assess their child’s readiness.
“Without adequate transition planning, this risks turning what should be a supportive reform into a stressful decision for families,” she said, calling on the government to allow a longer transition period, including clearer guidance for parents to prepare.
“Year One classes must be adjusted to be more play-based and developmentally appropriate, especially in the first term.
“Parents should be given flexibility to defer entry without stigma, and schools must be supported with trained teachers and manageable class sizes,” she said, adding that a good policy needs good pacing – which is the concern right now.
She also warned that without clear explanation, parents may perceive the Education Ministry’s diagnostic assessment to determine if a child is ready for Year One as an “exam” or a ranking exercise.
“A proper briefing helps parents understand that the assessment is meant to support children’s learning, not judge or rank them – and that makes a big difference in how families respond.
“A diagnostic tool can be useful because children enter Year One at very different developmental stages.
“But it only makes sense if it is low-pressure and used to guide support, not stream, exclude or add another layer of stress,” she said.
