Kuala Lumpur: The Ministry of Education (MOE) is set to propose amendments to the Education Act 1996 in the upcoming parliamentary session, with the aim of making secondary education compulsory for children up to the age of 17. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to tackle student dropout rates.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek emphasized the importance of enforcing this law to ensure every child has access to quality education until they complete secondary school. The next Parliament session is scheduled to take place from July 21 to August 28, where these amendments will be discussed.

Currently, under the Compulsory Primary Education Policy in Malaysia, parents must ensure their children complete six years of primary education. Minister Fadhlina highlighted ongoing education reform initiatives, including the expansion of preschools, while noting challenges in developing infrastructure, addressing logistics issues, and building teacher capacity.

Fadhlina stressed the need for competent and trained teachers to provide early educational foundations in preschools, which are crucial in reducing dropout rates. She mentioned that before making preschool compulsory, the necessary ecosystem, infrastructure, and teacher preparedness must be established.

Earlier, Minister Fadhlina spoke at a roundtable conference focused on enhancing regional education cooperation, followed by a closed meeting of ASEAN education ministers. The conference, which began yesterday, featured discussions on innovative strategies to address the challenges faced by out-of-school children and youth.

The ASEAN Education Forum saw participation from ASEAN member states, Timor Leste as an observer, and international organizations such as UNESCO, UNICEF, SEAMEO, and ICESCO. This year marks the fifth time Malaysia is hosting the ASEAN Chairmanship, following previous terms in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.