GEORGE TOWN: Starting primary school younger, effective 2027, may sound like a head start, but it could come at a cost. The Penang Education Institu­tion Operators Association (PPIPP) has warned that early entry into Year One risks placing undue stress on children and shaping their attitudes towards learning for years to come. “By bringing primary education forward, we risk losing this critical developmental stage. “Teachers would be managing classes made up of five-year-olds and six-year-olds in a primary school environment. “This would effectively shorten early childhood education by one year,” she said yesterday.

Source: The Star January 27, 2026 03:28 UTC