Bill for mandatory secondary education tabled
The government intends to insert a new provision – Section 32A – under the Education Act 1996, which allows the minister to publish an order in the gazette to make secondary education compulsory.
The new provision penalises violation of the law with a maximum fine of RM5,000 or a maximum jail term of six months or both, unless the child is given an exemption.
The bill also aims to change the scope of Section 29A to cover all Malaysian children residing in Malaysia.
Currently, Section 29A of the Education Act only mandates primary education for children of Malaysian citizens residing in Malaysia.
The Education (Amendment) Bill 2025 was presented for its first reading in Parliament by Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh, who also said the bill's second and third readings are slated to be completed in the same session.
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