BAGAN DATUK: Kindergartens under the Community Development Department (Kemas) will continue its role in educating pre-schoolers in line with the National Education Blueprint 2026-2035, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the curriculum for kindergartens under Kemas, as well as the unity kindergartens, will be revamped to ensure continuity in preschool classes for five-year-olds under the Education Ministry.
“The Cabinet, during its meeting last Friday, decided that the Education Ministry will coordinate preschool education, whereby five-year-olds are required to attend classes in national schools and schools under the ministry,” he said, Bernama reported.
On Jan 19, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that six-year-old children can be registered as Year One pupils for the 2027 school session.
Ahmad Zahid said that Kemas will continue to prepare an early education syllabus, given that these institutions serve as feeder classes for five-year-old children.
On another matter, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, expressed hope that cooperation among the coalition’s core parties, including the MIC, will continue to be strengthened.
The rejoining of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has further stabilised the coalition, he said.
“Barisan is of the view that all component parties, particularly the core parties, must respect one another.
“MIC has been a core party since the days of the Alliance, together with MCA and Umno. We hope that with five parties under its wing, Barisan will be further strengthened,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid, however, said it is the party’s prerogative to decide on its position within Barisan.
On Saturday, MIC president Tan Sri S. A. Vigneswaran said the party will convene an emergency meeting to discuss its official participation in Perikatan Nasional, after the opposition coalition had given the party the green light to become a component member.
