The Ministry of Education (MOE) is finalising the 2026 Compulsory Education Guidelines to ensure the smooth implementation of the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, which seeks to make secondary education mandatory nationwide.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the amendment introduces Section 32A, formally designating secondary education as compulsory under the law. The move marks a significant policy shift aimed at strengthening access to education and reducing student dropout rates, particularly in high-risk and rural areas.
She said the forthcoming guidelines will detail procedures for student admission and enrolment in government and government-aided schools, providing a clear framework for schools and parents ahead of the policy’s enforcement.
“The ministry remains committed to ensuring that every child has access to quality and inclusive education, including those in rural and interior areas of Sarawak,” she said in a written reply in Parliament.
She was responding to a question from Richard Rapu @ Aman Anak Begri, who sought clarification on the government’s preparedness to implement the amended Act. The query covered allocations, school facilities in rural Sarawak, the need for additional teachers, and monitoring mechanisms to measure student attendance and academic performance.
Fadhlina explained that in anticipation of increased enrolment at the secondary level, the ministry is undertaking phased teacher recruitment and placement. This includes the deployment of newly trained teachers, the appointment of contract educators, and optimisation of existing staff placements, with priority given to rural schools, interior regions and critical subject areas.
On infrastructure readiness, she said the MOE is intensifying efforts through two main strategies – constructing new schools based on population growth and settlement patterns, and upgrading existing facilities using the Building Condition Assessment Scale (Scale 2–7). The scale enables authorities to identify structures requiring preventive maintenance, refurbishment, upgrading or full replacement, particularly dilapidated buildings.
To expedite project implementation, the ministry is also strengthening collaboration with the Public Works Department, the Ministry of Economy and PLANMalaysia, especially to address logistical and accessibility challenges in Sarawak.
Fadhlina added that continuous, data-driven monitoring will underpin the policy’s execution. Key indicators include student attendance rates, academic achievement and dropout reduction, with periodic reports submitted by State Education Departments and District Education Offices to facilitate timely interventions.
“With comprehensive infrastructure planning, needs-based allocations and systematic monitoring, we are confident the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025 will enhance access, quality and overall educational outcomes for all students,” she said.
-EDUCATION TVET ASIA