Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today announced that Year 4 pupils will take a new standardised assessment starting this year.
The test will cover five subjects: Bahasa Melayu, English, Science, Mathematics and History.
“Starting this year, the Year 4 assessment will be administered by the Malaysian Examination Board,” he said at the launch of the National Education Plan here.
“These assessments are also known as the Malaysian Learning Matrix,” he said.
He also confirmed that preschool education would begin at age five, with Year 1 starting for children aged six, beginning next year.
However, he said parents are under no obligation to enrol their children at age five if they think their children are not ready.
“Parents may choose for their children to enter Year 1 at either six or seven years old in 2027.
“This reflects the demands of changing times while recognising individual readiness,” he said.
