Kuala lumpur: A new act aimed at regulating early childhood education comprehensively and effectively is set to be introduced, as announced by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. This initiative is part of the education reform strategies under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), which focuses on strengthening governance across all levels of the country’s education system.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the reforms will enhance service delivery from preschool to pre-university levels. During her speech on the 13MP for the Ministry of Education (MOE) in the Dewan Rakyat, Fadhlina emphasized the importance of governance in improving the education system’s effectiveness.

In addition to the new act, the MOE plans to implement the 2026 Preschool Curriculum, which aligns with the 2027 School Curriculum Framework. This curriculum will emphasize character building, self-confidence, love, and resilience through experiential learning tailored to the respective age groups. Fadhlina highlighted that the national preschool curriculum will become mandatory for all early childhood education institutions, focusing on values such as human dignity, character formation, critical thinking, and life skills.

Furthermore, the Education Act 1996 will see strengthened enforcement to support these reforms. Fadhlina also reaffirmed the MOE’s commitment to maintaining the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) as a recognized pre-university qualification internationally. With an annual enrolment of approximately 50,000 to 55,000 students, the MOE is implementing measures to attract more SPM graduates through the Form Six Education Roadmap 2024-2030. This roadmap targets improvements in five key areas: image branding, infrastructure, administration, teaching and learning flexibility, and a curriculum aligned with international standards such as A-Levels.