The government has decided not to implement a diagnostic screening test for six-year-old children entering Primary One beginning the 2027 school session, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said the decision was made after careful consideration, particularly concerns that such testing could have negative psychological effects on children and potentially lead to discriminatory practices at an early age.
Anwar explained that while the initial proposal for a diagnostic assessment was intended to provide an early evaluation system before children begin formal schooling, it could unintentionally label children as unfit or less capable, which might affect their confidence and emotional well-being.
“The idea was initially sound because it aimed to assess readiness before children enter school. However, upon deeper reflection, it could become discriminatory. Children could be deemed unqualified or less intelligent, and that may carry psychological consequences,” he said.
He said the Education Minister had proposed that the test be scrapped and simplified, a recommendation he fully supported.
The Prime Minister said this during the Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday in response to a question by Syed Saddiq Syed Rahman (MUDA-Muar), who raised concerns over the possibility of students falling behind if they failed to meet diagnostic test requirements.
Anwar stressed that the absence of a diagnostic test does not mean that monitoring of students’ progress would be neglected. Instead, he said, the roles of teachers and parents must be strengthened to ensure children’s readiness and learning development are closely observed.
He also described preschool education as a proactive and crucial starting point, noting that it provides a full year for early observation and assessment of a child’s development.
“At the same time, smaller-scale assessments will still be conducted at Year Four to enable early intervention at least two years before students transition to Form One,” he said.
Anwar acknowledged that assessment at any stage of education often invites debate, whether it is conducted in Year Three, Year Four, Year Six, or not conducted at all.
“In education, any form of evaluation tends to be controversial. No matter the level, there will always be differing views,” he said.
He therefore urged parents to give the government space to implement this early approach and allow its effectiveness to be reviewed periodically.
Meanwhile, Anwar reiterated that the government’s primary objective is to ensure six-year-old children are given optimal learning opportunities.
He said despite calls to delay Primary One entry for children aged six due to various concerns, Malaysia cannot afford to lag behind global education trends, noting that 137 countries have already adopted the practice.
To support the initiative, Anwar said an additional RM800 million would be allocated in this year’s budget to address immediate needs, including the recruitment of 18,000 new teachers.
“I do not deny that at the initial stage, the Education Ministry considered whether we should delay it by another year. But my view differs. Delaying would mean our children lose a valuable year,” he said.
He added that today’s children are generally more mature, intelligent and perceptive compared to previous generations, and stressed that outdated thinking should not hinder educational progress.
“What matters most is giving them exposure and the right environment to learn,” he said.
-EDUCATION TVET ASIA