Early Year 1 entry needs longer adjustment period, says Tenalg Usan rep

MIRI (Jan 23): The government should adopt a more nuanced approach and provide a longer adjustment period for the policy allowing six-year-olds to enter Year One, said Telang Usan assemblyman Dato Dennis Ngau.

While supporting the policy in principle, Dennis cautioned against rushing its implementation, saying the move could have far-reaching consequences for rural communities if not handled carefully ― including a potential increase in school dropout rates.

“The challenge lies in villages that do not have schools within their locality, where parents are required to send six-year-old children to the nearest boarding school.

“It would be emotionally difficult for parents to send their children away at such a tender age.

“This is already challenging even for seven- or eight year-olds, and it would be especially hard for parents to part with children who are still very young,” he added.

Dennis stressed that if Primary One entry at the age of six is to be made compulsory, the rollout should not be rushed as early as 2027.

Instead, he proposed a grace period of five to 10 years to allow families ― particularly those in rural areas ― to adjust to the policy.

“Otherwise, I foresee a higher dropout rate among pupils.

“This may not be an issue in urban centres, but it poses serious challenges for close-knit rural communities, including the Penan in Sarawak,” he warned.

He said the realities faced by rural communities in Sarawak differ significantly from those in urban centres such as Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, where children generally remain with their parents while attending school.

Drawing from his personal experience, Dennis, who is Kayan from Long Bedan in the middle of Baram, recalled the emotional difficulty of leaving home to attend boarding school.

“When we went to secondary school at the age of 13, it was our first time away from our parents, and many of us struggled emotionally.

“That experience alone shows how difficult it would be for a six-year-old,” he said.

Dennis was commenting on the federal government’s plan announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday, which allows parents to enrol their children in preschool at age five and enter Year One at age six beginning next year.

Anwar clarified that parents are not compelled to enroll their children at six if they feel their child is not ready, and may choose for them to enter Year One at either six or seven years old.

“This move reflects the demands of changing times while recognising individual readiness,” Anwar said during the launch of the National Education Blueprint 2026-2035.

However, opposition federal lawmakers have raised concerns over the proposal, warning that the Education Ministry’s plan to contain weaknesses that could prove harmful if infrastructure and readiness issues are not addressed.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the proposal raises serious questions about infrastructure readiness, particularly in rural and remote areas.