THE Ministry of Education has confirmed that starting next year, the new schooling year will begin in early January.
It will revert to January from the current starting month of March, announced Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
Speaking at an event in Kuching last night, she said the ministry made the decision after a thorough study and planning.
"We (the ministry) have made thorough preparations and will adjust the schooling and exams this year accordingly.
"This is to make sure the new school year for 2026 will start smoothly in January 2026.
"We will adjust the SPM and STPM exams this year accordingly so they will be held earlier ... SPM will be concluded before Christmas," she said.
Fadhlina said the ministry will inform all the state education departments of the matter and she called on school managements to be prepared to revert to the January start date.
"Once we revert to January, there will be 190 schooling days for the year," she said.
The March start was due to the Covid-19 crisis in 2020.
Before the 2020 pandemic, the schooling year always started in the first week of January. – March 14, 2025
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