Fadhlina: 'Maximum preparations' done for six-year-old Year 1 intake

 

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek today said the ministry has made “maximum preparations” in anticipation of an “extraordinary” response from parents seeking to enrol their six-year-olds into Year 1 beginning next year.

The issue of congested schools was repeatedly raised during debates of the royal address and again today in interjections from both sides of the bench.

Fadhlina, in her ministry’s winding-up speech today, reassured that there will be no rejection of any six-year-old student who registers to start Year 1 next year.

“We are prepared to the maximum. That means our current preparations are at full capacity, even though parents have options.

“Our preparations are at the highest level, taking into account the mapping we have already done as well as the response that has enabled us to identify the areas concerned.

“So, there will be no rejections - all who apply and are eligible will be accepted,” she said.

Fadhlina was responding to Radzi Jidin (PN-Putrajaya), Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar), and Dr Yunus Hairi (PN-Kuala Langat), who highlighted the expected capacity constraints for schools in high-density areas.

“We are actually already able to anticipate which areas will become focal points and parents’ preferred choices for enrolling their children at the age of six.

“As such, the mapping will become more refined once registration opens, and at present, we are in the process of making overall preparations in terms of school capacity and infrastructure,” she said.

“Where suitable, special rooms in schools will be optimised in their use and converted into additional classrooms if necessary.

“In the long term, the addition of infrastructure such as classrooms will be carried out in stages, using the Industrialised Building System method, based on needs and the local situation,” Fadhlina added.

On the hiring of 20,000 new teachers through contract of service, Fadhlina said the initiative is also part of the ministry’s “maximum preparations”. - Mkini