Kuala lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has decided to discontinue the proposed diagnostic screening test intended to assess children's eligibility for Year One admission, starting from the 2027 school session. This decision was made after a thorough review of the proposal, which raised concerns about potential psychological effects on young children.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initial proposal aimed to introduce an assessment system prior to school entry. However, it was deemed potentially discriminatory, possibly labeling children as unfit or less intelligent even before they started Year One or preschool. Consequently, the Education Minister recommended scrapping the test, a recommendation that Anwar agreed with.

During the Ministers' Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat, Anwar addressed questions from Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (MUDA-Muar), clarifying that monitoring of pupils' readiness would not be neglected despite the absence of a diagnostic test. Instead, he emphasized that teachers and parents should collaborate through continuous observation to ensure children are prepared.

Anwar highlighted the government's commitment to providing an optimal learning environment for six-year-olds. He acknowledged the global trend of early school entry, with 137 countries already implementing similar policies, and stressed the importance of not delaying entry into Year One to keep pace with global education standards.

To support these educational efforts, Anwar announced an additional RM800 million allocation in this year's Budget for urgent needs, including hiring 18,000 new teachers. He also addressed school overcrowding issues, suggesting a two-session school system as a potential solution for preschool and Year One pupils, especially in urban areas.

While entry into Year One at age six will not be mandatory initially, Anwar encouraged parents to consider early enrollment. Registration for the 2027 intake is scheduled from February 15 to March 31 this year, with preschool enrollment for five-year-olds beginning on April 6, 2026.

Anwar, also serving as Finance Minister, noted that the policy would increase government spending due to the expansion of free education to younger children. He assured that the Education Ministry, Economy Ministry, and Finance Ministry are working together to address funding, curriculum preparedness, and parental response to ensure effective policy implementation.