B40 CHILDREN GET PRIORITY IN EXPANSION OF FREE PRESCHOOL CLASSES

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- Children from low-income B40 households are being prioritised for admission to Ministry of Education (MOE) preschools as part of efforts to ensure more equitable access to early childhood education nationwide, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Minister Wong Kah Woh said the initiative is in line with the ministry’s commitment to expanding free preschool education to prevent children from falling behind at an early stage.

“The MOE is committed to ensuring that more children have access to free preschool education, in line with the ministry’s core education reform agenda to expand preschool classes and address early-stage dropouts,” he said when replying to a question from Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (BN-Sembrong).

Wong said the expansion of preschool classes is carried out annually, especially in areas with high demand, to provide more opportunities for children, particularly those from the B40 group, to enrol in MOE preschools.

“In 2025, the MOE expanded 150 preschool classes, while in 2026, a further expansion of 350 preschool classes across various MOE institutions is expected.

“This brings the total number of existing preschool classes to 10,514, currently operating in 6,469 schools and educational institutions nationwide,” he said, adding that the expansion is not limited to primary schools but also includes secondary schools, vocational colleges, matriculation colleges and Institutes of Teacher Education.

Wong said that a total of 214,122 preschool students are currently enrolled at educational institutions under the MOE.

On the readiness of facilities and teaching staff following new education initiatives, including the early admission of six-year-olds into Year One, he said that in the short term, new buildings would be constructed using the Industrialised Building System (IBS) to enable facilities to be completed within a shorter timeframe.

As for teaching staff requirements, he said the MOE would carry out a special intake of teachers in collaboration with the Education Service Commission (SPP) as an immediate measure ahead of the intake of a new cohort.

“Existing school facilities will be utilised and optimised, but we acknowledge that there are schools where additional facilities may be required.

“For long-term planning, intakes under the Bachelor of Education Programme (PISMP) and the Postgraduate Diploma in Education Programme (PDPP) will also be increased, subject to new projections to be prepared by the MOE based on available data,” he added.

-- BERNAMA