Starting School at Six: How Malaysia Compares with Other Countries | KiddyNews

Malaysia may lower the entry age for Standard One to six as part of efforts to strengthen its education system and align with international practices, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said under the National Education Blueprint 2026–2035.

While no immediate policy change or timeline has been confirmed, the proposal has reignited public discussion on whether Malaysia’s later school starting age remains suitable in today’s global education landscape.

Malaysia’s Current School Structure

Under the existing system, Malaysian children typically attend preschool or kindergarten from ages four to six before entering Standard One at age seven.

Formal schooling follows a structured pathway of six years of primary education and five years of secondary education, culminating in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). An optional Form Six programme is available but sees limited participation.

In total, Malaysian students spend 11 years in formal schooling before moving on to pre-university education, vocational pathways or employment.

Education observers note that for many children, Standard One remains their first exposure to structured academic learning, as access to quality preschool education varies across communities.

Preschool as a Critical Foundation

As Malaysia considers earlier entry into formal schooling, the role of preschool becomes increasingly significant.

Preschool education provides children with early exposure to social interaction, emotional development and foundational learning skills. However, uneven access and varying quality mean that not all children enter primary school with the same level of readiness.

Any shift towards starting school at six would place greater importance on strengthening preschool programmes to ensure children are developmentally prepared for a more structured learning environment.

How Southeast Asia Starts Earlier

Across Southeast Asia, most neighbouring countries begin formal schooling at age six and provide a longer overall education pathway.

In Singapore, children typically start Primary One at six, entering structured education earlier and progressing through clearly defined pathways. Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam also enrol children at six, each offering 12 years of formal schooling from primary through upper secondary levels.

These systems provide earlier academic exposure while maintaining a full schooling duration before graduation.

East Asia and Western Systems Follow Similar Patterns

East Asian education systems such as those in China, Japan and South Korea also begin primary education at six, followed by six years of primary and six years of secondary schooling.

In Western countries, entry often begins at five or six. England, Australia and several European nations start formal education earlier, with younger children introduced through play-based or developmentally appropriate learning models.

In the United States and Canada, children enter kindergarten at five and progress through a 12-grade system over 12 to 13 years.

Malaysia in Comparison

At present, Malaysia stands out for starting formal schooling later and having a shorter total schooling duration.

Malaysia: Starts at 7, 11 years of schooling

Singapore: Starts at 6–7, 10–11 years (excluding post-secondary)

Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam: Start at 6, 12 years

China, Japan, South Korea: Start at 6, 12 years

Only a small number of countries, including Finland and parts of Scandinavia, delay formal schooling until age seven. These systems, however, are supported by strong, universal early childhood education and less exam-driven early learning.

Why Earlier Entry Is Being Considered

Supporters of lowering the entry age argue that it could help reduce learning gaps, align Malaysia with international education norms and allow students to progress to higher education or the workforce earlier.

They also point out that years spent in loosely structured pre-primary education could be better utilised through a more coordinated early learning framework.

Critics, however, stress that children develop at different rates and caution against increasing academic pressure without careful curriculum design, teacher preparation and strong preschool foundations.

What Parents Should Know

Any change to the entry age would be optional, with parents retaining the final say on whether their child enters Standard One at six or continues preschool for another year. Entry at age seven would remain mandatory.

Anwar said the Education Ministry had initially planned to introduce the change later but decided to move discussions forward to support national development goals.

He also announced that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), including STEM and digital pathways, will begin from Form One instead of Form Three, allowing students to explore specialised learning earlier.

For families, the discussion underscores the growing importance of preschool as the bridge between early childhood and primary education, and the need to ensure children are supported emotionally, socially, and academically before taking their next step into school.

Source:

Malay Mail  – “Starting school at six: How Malaysia stacks up against its neighbours”

Thoughtfully adapted by KiddyNews. Keeping parents and educators informed with the latest ECCE developments from Malaysia and beyond.