GEORGE TOWN: The Education Ministry will continue to engage with parents, kindergartens and preschools to provide further clarification on the enrolment of Year One pupils at the age of six.
Minister Fadhlina Sidek (pic)said the ministry was open to feedback, including from private kindergarten operators who reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with parts of the policy.
“If there are still parties unhappy, we will continue with the engagement sessions. We take every issue raised during these discussions seriously.
“There is no problem for us to continue the engagement sessions to provide clarification,” she told reporters after attending the Penang PKR Chinese New Year Open House at Wisma PKR in Bayan Baru, Bernama reported.
Fadhlina, who is the Wanita PKR chief, said claims that preschool operators backed the “Year One at six” policy were misleading, and their meeting attendance did not imply approval.
Penang MCA vice-chairman of the Election Preparation and Scrutiny Committee Chan Wooi Jin urged the government to conduct a thorough study and hold dialogues and not assume meeting attendance as support for the policy.
Reports stated that the ministry held sessions with private kindergarten operators to plan the admission of six-year-olds to Year One in 2027 under the new curriculum.
Fadhlina reiterated that entry into Year One at age six was optional and not mandatory, adding that parents who felt their child was ready for Year One could proceed while others continued as usual.
