Jalan sungai acheh: The Ministry of Education (MOE) is making full preparations to handle the admission of six-year-olds into Year One from next year, in anticipation of the encouraging response from parents.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, MOE's minister, Fadhlina Sideka, announced that online registration will open on February 15. Based on early feedback, the ministry anticipates a significant surge in pupil intake, particularly in urban areas. Fadhlina highlighted that preparations are at the highest level, although the exact number of enrollments remains uncertain.

Fadhlina made these remarks after officiating at the Semarak Sejahtera Activity Centre Older Persons (PAW) programme at Jalan Sungai Acheh, attended by Social Welfare Department (JKM) director-general Datuk Che Murad Sayang Ramjan. As the Nibong Tebal Member of Parliament, she discussed the preparations for admitting Year 1 pupils from the six-year cohort for the 2027 school session.

The ministry's current focus is on mapping areas and schools to identify existing facilities, class capacity, and how to optimize schools expected to receive an influx of students. Fadhlina noted that urban areas are anticipated to see an increase in Year 1 admissions for six-year-olds.

To meet the expected demand, Fadhlina stated that the ministry plans to optimize existing classrooms and add new ones using the industrialised building system (IBS), which offers faster construction than conventional methods. Additionally, the ministry aims to recruit 20,000 teachers to ensure a smooth transition for incoming Year One pupils.