KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has agreed to scrap the proposed diagnostic screening test to assess children's eligibility for entry into Year One as early as six years old, beginning with the 2027 school session.
He said the proposal had been carefully reviewed, including concerns that such testing could have psychological effects on children.
"The initial proposal was well-intentioned, as it aimed to introduce an assessment system before children enter school. However, it was felt that it could be discriminatory in nature.
"This could lead to children being deemed unfit or less intelligent before entering Year One or preschool, which may have psychological consequences. Therefore, it is now scrapped. This was the Education Minister's recommendation, and I agreed," he said.
Anwar said this in reply to Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar) during the Ministers' Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Jan 27).
However, the Prime Minister said the absence of a diagnostic test does not mean that monitoring pupils' readiness will be neglected. Instead, teachers and parents should jointly bear the responsibility through continuous observation.
Anwar stressed that the government's primary goal is to ensure that six-year-old children are given an optimal learning environment.
He said that despite calls to delay entry into Year One at the age of six due to various concerns, Malaysia cannot afford to fall behind global education trends, noting that 137 countries have already implemented similar policies.
He also announced that an additional RM800mil will be allocated in this year's Budget to meet urgent needs, including the recruitment of 18,000 new teachers.
"It is true that at the initial stage, the Education Ministry suggested postponing it by another year. I took a different view. If we delay it by a year, our children lose a year.
"Today's generation is not the same as before. Generally, they are more mature, smarter and more perceptive. We should not rely on outdated thinking. What matters is giving them exposure," he said. - Bernama
