SHAH ALAM, Jan 29 — The state government will align the early Year One intake at the age of six across all schools under the Selangor Islamic Religious Department's (JAIS) purview.
Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said the move is in line with the Education Ministry's (MOE) policy on early entry to Year One at the age of six.
The alignment is expected to be completed by mid-year once JAIS finalises the intake framework.
“We will try to align this with the MOE so that there is no confusion arising from this policy change, while also avoiding the emergence of multiple policies.
“There are many aspects that need to be considered and adjusted, including school hours and teaching staff. Establishing a school is not difficult, but recruiting teachers takes a long time; at least three to five years to reach full capacity.
“This major change will certainly have an impact, but we will endeavour to implement it in an orderly and careful manner so as to avoid disruption and confusion,” he said during the launch and presentation of the Shah Alam Sustainable Development Goals Voluntary Local Review Series 2 report today.
Amirudin added that the state government will hold a retreat involving various parties, including JAIS, the Selangor Education Department, and universities, to identify the best approach for schools under the religious department.
Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that preschool education will begin at age five and Year One at age six, starting next year.
However, the change will not be made compulsory for parents to allow time for all parties to prepare for the new educational environment, particularly educators.
The government has also decided that the diagnostic screening test for Year One pupils entering at age six will not be implemented from the 2027 school session onwards. The decision was made after taking into account concerns that the implementation of such tests could have psychological effects on children and potentially be discriminatory.
The early intake policy is part of the flexibility within the national education system that provides opportunities for children who demonstrate academic readiness at an earlier stage to begin formal schooling before the usual age of seven.
