Over 350K applications received for early Year 1 enrolment

2026-03-03 - 12:14

Last month, it was announced that Year 1 would begin at age six from next year. However, early admission would be voluntary. PETALING JAYA: The education ministry has received more than 350,000 applications for six-year-olds to enter Year 1 in the 2027 school session. The total represents over half of the projected 700,000 applications expected nationwide. Deputy education minister Wong Kah Woh said as of yesterday, 351,789 applications had been recorded for the 2027 intake, Bernama reported. “This reflects the confidence of parents in their children’s readiness as well as the scope of the system,” he said in the Dewan Negara. To support the admission, he said the government would enhance access to preschool education by expanding facilities in primary schools, secondary schools, vocational colleges, matriculation colleges and Teacher Education Institutes (IPG). “Currently, there are 10,514 preschool classes in 6,469 institutions. The government had planned to add 150 new classes in 2025 and another 350 in 2026, bringing the total government preschool capacity to 256,894 places, with current enrolment at 217,041 pupils,” he said. Year 1 registration for the 2027 academic session remains open until March 31, but the education ministry would continue to accept late applications to give parents time to decide. Last month, it was announced that preschool education would begin at age five, while Year 1 would begin at age six, starting next year. However, early primary school admission will be on a voluntary basis. Meanwhile, women, family and community development deputy minister Lim Hui Ying said 10,651 participants had benefitted from 70 women’s economic empowerment programmes since January this year. She said last year, 824 programmes were carried out, involving 31,025 participants nationwide, including the flagship Income Generation Skills Programme, which aims to guide women in acquiring the knowledge and skills to manage and expand their businesses. “Since its implementation, from 2022 to 2025, a total of 1,158 participants have been trained, with an average increase in monthly income of between RM1,000 and RM1,500,” she said.