Kuala Lampur, Feb. 1 -- Malaysia's recent Malaysian Education Blueprint (Rancangan Pendidikan Malaysia 2026-2035) proposed allowing children as young as six (6) to enter Year One (Standard One) from 2027, on a voluntary basis.

This means parents can choose to enrol a child at six instead of seven if the child is ready. The change is not mandatory; it is meant to give families and schools flexibility.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim noted that while the initial policy included a readiness or diagnostic test, it was later scrapped to avoid disadvantaging children who are early but might fail a formal exam.

The headline initiative is that younger enrolment is allowed (not forced), recognising diverse development speeds.

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