The Malaysian Ministry of Education plans to create 2,596 new classrooms in 838 schools to prepare the education system for an increase in the number of Year 1 pupils.

The development came following the introduction of a new policy allowing the simultaneous admission of children from two years old in 2027.

This was reported by Astro AWANI, a partner of TV BRICS.

According to Deputy Minister of Education Wong Kah Woh, creating additional classes is only part of the preparations for the reform.

He added that 478,469 applications have been registered for entry into Year 1 in 2027.

Of these, 405,003 applications are for seven-year-olds and 73,386 are for six-year-olds.

Consequently, the total number of future Year 1 pupils will increase by 12.07 per cent compared with the 2026 intake, which consisted solely of seven-year-olds.

The authorities are also expanding the capacity of existing schools by reconfiguring their premises, introducing two-shift teaching, and, where necessary, redistributing pupils among neighbouring schools.

The ministry is taking other aspects into account. It is training teachers and addressing staffing, financial and organisational issues to ensure the smooth implementation of the new policy.

All work is scheduled to be completed this year.

(TV BRICS/NAN)