KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry has put together a preliminary bill to extend compulsory schooling from six years to 11 years. In a written response to a parliamentary inquiry dated Nov 7, Minister Fadhlina Sidek explained that the proposal to extend mandatory schooling to 11 years was aimed at providing all Malaysian children with an equal opportunity to complete secondary education and develop their potential.
To refine the draft bill, the Education Ministry has engaged with stakeholders from various ministries and government agencies,” she said. “The draft bill will be presented in Parliament after receiving approval from all decision-making levels, including the Cabinet,” she added.
She was responding to a question from Yeo Bee Yin (PH-Puchong) about whether the government planned to amend the Education Act to extend compulsory schooling. The current education policy, based on the Education Act 1996, only requires schooling up to Year Six.
It was previously reported in March 2023 that the Education Ministry had submitted a draft proposal to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to make secondary school education mandatory.
