Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Education (MOE) is stepping up preparations for the intake of two Year One cohorts in 2027, including the construction of 2,596 new classrooms and the recruitment of 3,150 contract of service (COS) teachers, based on current registration figures.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh stated that the ministry has received 73,386 Year One registration applications for six-year-old children for the 2027 school session, while the number of seven-year-old children stands at 405,033. The combined total of 478,419 applications represents a 12.07 percent increase compared with Year One enrolment in 2026, which involved only the seven-year-old cohort.
Wong explained that the MOE is implementing preparatory measures, including constructing new classrooms using the Industrialised Building System (IBS) modular method across 838 schools, with expected project completion this year. This statement was made during question time in the Dewan Rakyat in response to a query from Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu).
Regarding coordination between pre-school and kindergarten education and pupils' readiness from different early education backgrounds, Wong mentioned that parents have the option to decide their child's readiness to join either the six-year-old cohort or remain in the seven-year-old cohort. Additionally, the MOE has increased the number of pre-school classes to 350 this year, compared to about 150 classes annually in previous years, to ensure wider access for B40 families unable to afford private kindergartens.
Wong also addressed concerns about the implications for the sustainability of private kindergartens due to the loss of one cohort, noting that engagement sessions with stakeholders are ongoing. In response to a supplementary question from Datuk Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai) on teacher training and projections of teacher shortages by state, Wong shared that the MOE has a five-year projection on teacher requirements at both national and state levels.
He emphasized that, in addition to COS teachers, the ministry will appoint reserve candidates from the Education Service Commission (SPP) to meet current needs and strengthen professional training for the intake of six-year-old pupils into Year One. The Year One transition programme will be fully utilized to support pupils' adjustment, ensuring that the 2027 school curriculum, to be implemented next year, is tailored to pupils' developmental levels and needs.