IPOH: A total of 29,610 applications for Year One intake in 2027 have been received in Perak, says state Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Khairudin Abu Hanipah.
He said that it involves 4,330 applications from children aged five and above and 25,280 applications from those aged six and above as of April 7.
"This approach enables the Perak Education Department to obtain a clearer picture and evaluate overall preparedness in terms of existing capacity and the challenges faced by schools,” he said during the state assembly sitting on Friday (April 17).
He was responding to Rosli Abd Rahman (PAS–Pasir Panjang), who had asked about the state government’s plans to ensure sufficient teaching and learning facilities and whether primary schools would be guaranteed an adequate number of teachers to implement the initiative.
Khairudin added that several measures had been identified, including engagement sessions carried out by district education offices (PPD) together with schools to assess readiness levels and identify actual needs on the ground.
"It includes optimising the use of existing Education Ministry premises involving 411 schools, converting special rooms such as science labs into classrooms in 159 schools and the distribution of students to nearby schools.
"About 27 schools would be provided with temporary modular cabin classrooms (MRS), involving 69 additional mainstream classrooms and 16 for special education, bringing the total number of additional classrooms to 85," he added.
He also said that 20,000 new DG9 grade education officers would be appointed on a Contract of Service (CoS) basis to meet staffing needs.
