Larger classes, third school session spark worries among parents

 They say plans for 45-pupil classrooms and a three-session school system may affect learning quality and the well-being of six-year-olds.

Selangor is among the first states to say that it will align with the federal education ministry’s proposed reforms for Year One classes. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Parent groups in Selangor and Melaka have expressed fears that a proposal for larger classes and a third session for Year One pupils could put pressure on children and affect learning quality.

Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) chairman Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said classes with up to 45 pupils are unsuitable for six-year-olds.

“This may be manageable for older pupils, but for six-year-olds, it is simply too crowded for effective learning,” she told FMT.

“There is a risk that we are expanding access at a rate that is too fast for us to safeguard quality. Early education is foundational. If standards slip here, the impact lasts years,” she added.

Last week, Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari said the state will align its education system with a federal proposal to allow parents to enrol six-year-olds in Year One.

In line with an expected increase in the number of Year One pupils to 80,000, he said enrolment could be raised to as many as 45 in each class.

Azimah also said that the three-session school system, with shorter but fragmented lessons, would hinder in-depth learning and limit children’s access to school facilities.

“Fatigue rises, especially for students in later sessions and teachers handling extended hours, affecting focus and teaching quality,” she added.

“Safety is also a concern, with children travelling home later in the day, disrupting rest and supervision.”

In Melaka, another parent group expressed similar concerns.

Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) chairman Mak Chee Kin questioned the feasibility of the reforms, saying they appear rushed.

“Some classrooms can’t even fit that many pupils, and you cannot expect them to sit quietly throughout,” he said.

“Additional support, such as teaching assistants, is paramount. How can one teacher handle 45 six-years-old?”

Mak also raised questions about how a three-session system would be implemented, including whether school hours would start earlier or extend into the afternoon.

As opposed to the education ministry’s proposed reforms, education experts had previously called for smaller classes.

In May last year, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Anuar Ahmad suggested limiting class enrolment to 25 to ensure effective teaching and learning.

In November 2025, education minister Fadhlina Sidek said the reforms would include a “co-teaching” module that will see two teachers working together in a single classroom. - FMT