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...

Johor preps for SPM ahead of floods, to ensure no disruption to exams

ISKANDAR PUTERI: Early preparations have been made to ensure that Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) continues to run smoothly statewide in the event of floods, says Johor executive councillor Aznan Tamin. The Johor education and information committee chairman said a total of 669 schools, including over 500 primary schools, have been identified as temporary flood relief centres...

Health Ministry to meet nurses’ unions to discuss increase in working hours

SHAH ALAM: The Health Ministry will hold a meeting with nurses' unions to gather input and address concerns regarding the increase in working hours for the profession from 42 hours to 45 hours per week effective Dec 1. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the meeting would involve five nurses' unions that have expressed...

Education Ministry probing reports Thai students crossing Sg Golok to study in Malaysia

PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry will investigate reports of students from Thailand crossing Sungai Golok daily to attend school in Malaysia, says Fadhlina Sidek. The Education Minister said that if these students are Malaysians, this should not occur as the government has provided various access and educational facilities for its citizens. "If these children are Malaysians, they should...

Education Ministry to introduce new preschool curriculum with bilingual focus by 2026

PORT DICKSON: The Education Ministry will roll out a new preschool curriculum in 2026, emphasising a balanced use of 50% Malay and 50% English language. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said that this initiative aims to enhance early childhood education through a bilingual approach while incorporating comprehensive educational strategies for preschools under the ministry, the Community Development...

Education Ministry to introduce new preschool curriculum with bilingual focus by 2026

PORT DICKSON: The Education Ministry will roll out a new preschool curriculum in 2026, emphasising a balanced use of 50% Malay and 50% English language. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said that this initiative aims to enhance early childhood education through a bilingual approach while incorporating comprehensive educational strategies for preschools under the ministry, the Community Development...

More than 800 schools nationwide at risk of flooding

KUALA TERENGGANU: A total of 883 schools, including primary and secondary schools, were identified as being at risk of flooding across the country. Education director-general Azman Adnan said they included 227 schools in Sarawak; Sabah (208); Pahang (93); Kelantan (91); Terengganu (90) and Perak (45). He said besides that in Selangor, 42 schools were identified as being...

MACC: RM4.07bil YTL Comms probe will be transparent, impartial

PETALING JAYA: The probe into YTL Communications Sdn Bhd (YTL) over the RM4.07bil 1BestariNet service tender from the Education Ministry will be transparent and impartial, says the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The commission has assured that the probe was being carried out professionally, with no interference from external parties. In a statement on Friday (Sept 6), the...

Efforts to attract young people’s interest in STEM require cooperation of all parties

GEORGE TOWN: Efforts to attract young people's interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects must involve all parties, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir. He said all parties need to take responsibility for creating interest in the STEM field, starting from the school level, which is one of the main...

Ongoing recruitment exercise to address teacher shortage in Sarawak, says Sagah

KUCHING: A special recruitment exercise will be conducted in Sarawak to address the shortage of teachers in the state, says Datuk Seri Roland Sagah. The state Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister said Sarawak was expected to be short of 2,373 teachers by Dec 31 this year. He said an ongoing recruitment drive by the Education Service...