KUALA LUMPUR – New school years will begin in January again from 2026 onwards, announced Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek today.
She said plans were being made by the ministry to bring forward the beginning of the academic calendar for the 2024/2025 session to February 2024.
“The ministry has studied the proposal to restore the school academic calendar to start in January like before... it is hoped that with this announcement, the financial and economic aspects can be planned from now on by all parties involved,” she said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
“Indirectly, the planning of family holidays, and feasts for teachers as announced in the 10 initiatives in conjunction with Teachers’ Day (recently) will be arranged based on the new academic calendar which will be sent for gazette.”
She was responding to a question from Aminolhuda Hassan (Sri Gading-PH) on when the academic calendar for schools could start in January again.
Fadhlina told Parliament that in determining the academic calendar year for schools, the ministry has to ensure that lessons could be carried out optimally and meet the required 190 school days in a year.
“The ministry has also aligned the public examinations schedule so that it is in line with the change in the school academic calendar,” she added.
According to her, any changes to the school academic calendar need to take into account local economic factors, as well as the flood season, to ensure no interference with public examinations such as the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia, and Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia. – Bernama, May 23, 2023
