Bill on compulsory secondary education to be tabled next February, says Education Minister

PUTRAJAYA: The bill to amend the Education Act 1996 (Act 550) to make secondary education compulsory is expected to be tabled at Dewan Rakyat in February next year, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

She stated that the Education Ministry has submitted the bill to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) for review and aims to present it during the next parliamentary session.

“The nature of this bill is very important and critical for us. We already have a primary school education policy, which with the existence of this policy we have achieved a very high enrolment rate of 98 to 99%.

“This compulsory secondary education policy reflects our commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind, especially at the upper secondary level,” she told reporters after the Education Ministry’s final monthly assembly here on Tuesday (Dec 19).

The Education Minister also acknowledged the challenges in education, including the post-Covid-19 situation as well as the involvement of students who are working.

“These factors are being taken into account and we will initiate this process with advocacy and awareness campaigns targeting parents and the community.

“So we hope that we will be ready to table this in the upcoming parliamentary session,” she said.

Last year, the Cabinet gave its preliminary approval to make secondary education compulsory.

Fadhlina mentioned that this will extend the compulsory primary education policy, in effect since 2003, involving significant amendments to the Education Act 1996 (Act 550).