a day ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Govt to draft new act for early childhood education in 13MP
KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry will draft a new Act on early childhood education to ensure comprehensive and effective regulatory oversight, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, she said that as part of efforts to enhance educational outcomes, the government, under the 13th Malaysia Plan, will introduce a comprehensive transformation that addresses every level of learning.
"In the context of early childhood education, a new Act will be drafted to ensure comprehensive and effective regulatory oversight," he said in her winding-up speech on the 13th Malaysia Plan.
When tabling the 13th Malaysia Plan, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government will make preschool education compulsory from the age of five to enhance educational outcomes.
Fadhlina added that she echoed Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (PN-Indera Mahkota)'s suggestion for preschool curriculum to be developed based on the developmental needs of children.
She said the ministry would introduce the Preschool Curriculum 2026, which will be anchored in the School Curriculum Framework 2027.
"This curriculum emphasises character building, self-confidence, values of compassion, and resilience through experiential approaches that are age-appropriate.
"Accordingly, the national preschool curriculum will be made mandatory for all early childhood education institutions, with emphasis on human dignity (karamah insaniah), character development, critical thinking, and life skills.
"To ensure its successful implementation, mastery of this curriculum will be prioritised," she added.
She added that the ministry has also expanded access to preschool and leveraged on all available spaces, including in secondary schools, Teachers' Education Institute (IPG), vocational colleges, among others.
"The priority is to ensure that parents and the community are encouraged and made aware of the importance of preschool education.
"We also see that the new 2026 preschool curriculum is very important," she said.
She added that under the 13th Malaysia Plan, the government will establish a National Education Council (NEC) tasked with coordinating, monitoring, and recommending strategic interventions.
She said the ministry, along with the Higher Education Ministry, is working closely to prepare a Joint Cabinet Memorandum, which is expected to be tabled in mid-September 2025.
In terms of membership, she said, the NEC will comprise representatives from various ministries, government agencies, academia, industry, NGOs, and GLCs to ensure that decisions made are inclusive.
"The establishment of the NEC will serve to coordinate and monitor the implementation of policies, as well as to identify appropriate intervention measures to ensure that the education system remains relevant and effective," she said.
