Putrajaya has been urged to provide a universal and free preschool education system before kick-starting its new education plan, which aims to allow children to enrol in Year One in primary school at age six.
Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli cautioned that there would be problems in its implementation should the plan proceed before addressing the preschool issue.
According to the Pandan MP, the Education Ministry would not have to do diagnostic tests on children if they have already been prepared from the preschool stage.
"There won't be any concern that only the children of wealthy parents can pass the tests because they are more prepared. When there is a natural progression, as they already started preschool at age five, then they will just go into Year One at age six.
"I do not know what actually happened, but my guess is the idea of having all these diagnostic tests came about because of the ministry's apprehension of preschool," Rafizi said in his latest podcast episode last night.
He spoke at length about the 2026-2035 Education Plan that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim launched on Tuesday.
The plan has received criticisms from many quarters, including MPs and stakeholders who questioned the timeline of the planning, which would see five-year-old and six-year-old children enrolling in Year One next year simultaneously.
‘Rejected outright’
Rafizi said he has raised the need for Malaysia to have a universal preschool system that is free since his time in the cabinet, stressing that such a system is necessary to nurture its younger generation.
However, according to him, the idea was "ditolak mentah-mentah" (rejected outright).
Rafizi believed the Education Ministry should focus on preparing students during their early years instead of handling pre-university education, which he said should be left to the Higher Education Ministry.
"Why do you want to get involved with handling Form Six and matriculation classes? What’s important for the Education Ministry is to start early (education).
"You start with preschool, and when they are still in the lower primary, because if you get it right then, the students would be on the right track and would not be left behind.
"But now they are busy with Form Six and matriculation centres. If the students are already left behind, it would be hard for you to fix it by then," he said.
‘Bold move’
Despite his criticisms, Rafizi praised the government for taking the "bold move" to lower the starting age for primary education, which would allow students to graduate high school by age 16.
Describing the decision as necessary, he pointed out that the country has reached the stage of an ageing nation and would soon become an aged nation, as more workers reach retirement age.
This would affect the country's economy and development, among others.
Rafizi said the new plan was the biggest educational reform the government has taken since the country gained its independence in 1957.
"If the plan goes well and it brings good results in 20 to 30 years, perhaps Fadhlina (Sidek) would be the most remembered education minister in history.
"Because it is the biggest reform we have taken since day one of Merdeka. We are trying to reset the clock.
"This is not about changing textbooks; this is a generational game," he said. - Mkini
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