Back to January start date for schools, says minister… but not yet

KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry has agreed to return the start date of the schooling session to January.


However, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said this will not be implemented in the near future due to several factors.


“The ministry has agreed in principle to return the start of the academic session to January.


“But not in the near future because it takes into account several factors that need to be resolved in addition to various justification based on compliance with the Education Act.


“The syllabus of every subjects must be able to be completed following the January to December academic session and should not interfere with Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM); Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM),” she told the Lower House today during her ministry’s winding up speech for the 2023 Supply Bill here, today.


Fadhlina added that the weather is also taken into account when considering changing the school session dates.


“We need to factor in the unpredictable weather and the local economy. The ministry must comply with the number of schooling days for students… no less than 190 days in a year,” she said.


The minister added there are no plans to make STPM mandatory as it could affect the intake into other tertiary institutions such as matriculation, Teacher Education Institute (IPG) as well as public and private universities.


“The offer for Sixth Form education is aligned with the Education Act 1996 and is not mandatory,” she said.


Source : https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/03/893845/back-january-start-date-schools-says-minister-not-yet

By Teh Athira YusofQistina Sallehuddin – March 28, 2023 @ 8:05pm