KUALA LUMPUR – Starting next year, children will begin preschool education at the age of five, while Year One will commence at the age of six, according to an announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
However, Anwar clarified that the change is not yet mandatory for parents, as the government intends to provide space for all parties – particularly educators – to adapt to the new national education environment.
“We want to ensure this implementation runs smoothly. Major changes like this require time for everyone to be prepared,” he said during the Launch of the National Education Plan 2026–2035 here today.
“This means that starting next year, although we are not ready to make it compulsory as some parents may feel their children are not prepared, we have set that entry into Year One at the age of seven will still be allowed.
However, we encourage parents who are ready to begin now, so that children at the age of five can enter preschool. We are giving full attention to preschool, and have asked the Ministry of Education (MOE) to take over and streamline the entire preschool system,” he said during the Launch of the National Education Plan 2026–2035 here today.
Anwar stressed that the Ministry of Education (MOE) must make immediate preparations to implement changes to the country’s new education system, with support from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy.
Also present at the launch of the National Education Plan 2026–2035 were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Education Minister Fadlina Sidek, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, and several other Cabinet members.
“That is why I have directed that the matters announced must be acted upon quickly by the ministries, to ensure basic facilities are enhanced.
If you ask MOE, their projections are for 2029 or 2030. I said that’s fine, but because I believe in the capability of these ministries, we will accelerate everything. It will all be ‘fast‑tracked’ because this country has the capacity to succeed,” he said. – January 20, 2026