Preschool education will be made compulsory from the age of five, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced when tabling the 13th Malaysian Plan (13MP) today.
Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat the government aimed to see the enrolment rate at preschools and secondary schools reach 98%, surpassing the global average.
A review will also be conducted of optimal schooling hours, the effectiveness of specialised schools, and improvements to the education model for gifted students.
Anwar said Putrajaya was seeking to improve the quality of the national education system, to bring it on par with international standards as measured by the Programme for International Students Assessment and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study.
“The government is aware that in our efforts to create a vitalised society, there is no substitute for quality education in cultivating compassionate and courteous individuals,” he said.
Yesterday, the Dewan Rakyat heard a debate from 33 MPs on an amendment that would make it mandatory for all students to study up to Form 5, rather than stopping at primary school.
Most of the MPs raised concerns about the proposed fine or jail time for parents who failed to comply with the new law, calling for a delay in the enforcement of such penalties.
