Kota Kinabalu: Persatuan Tadika Sabah (PTS) has voiced support for the Government’s efforts to strengthen early childhood education while urging a careful, flexible and child-centred approach to any future move to make Primary One entry at age six mandatory.
In a statement on Sunday, the association said it welcomed curriculum reforms aimed at improving literacy and numeracy, stressing that age-appropriate learning is crucial in providing children with a strong foundation for lifelong education.
PTS noted the Government’s announcement that from 2027, parents will have the option to enrol their children in Primary One at the age of six instead of seven, adding that although the move is not compulsory, its implementation must be carefully considered.
Its President, Sonia Chin, said education policies should always place the child at the centre of decision-making, taking into account developmental readiness, parental understanding and Sabah’s unique geographical and social context.
“Children develop at different paces and policies must be flexible enough to respect these differences while enabling parents to make informed choices in the best interests of their children,” she said.
Sonia said the private early childhood education sector has for many years played an important role in supporting families and preparing children holistically for formal schooling.
The association added that private kindergartens have also contributed significantly to raising public awareness on the importance of early learning and hoped the Government would continue to recognise this contribution.
She called for clearer and more accessible information for parents on the revised Primary One syllabus and learning expectations to avoid a mismatch between academic demands and children’s developmental readiness.
She also urged a review of existing legislation and licensing frameworks to allow greater flexibility, including age-grouping provisions, so that tadika operators can adapt their programmes to evolving needs.
“Private kindergartens must be given room to adjust their services so families continue to have meaningful choices during the transition period,” she said.
She further emphasised that if Primary One attendance at age six becomes mandatory in future, special consideration must be given to rural and remote communities in Sabah, where issues such as distance, transport safety, financial burden, language transition and limited access to support services remain significant challenges.
“It remains committed to constructive engagement with all stakeholders to ensure education policies are implemented in an inclusive, practical and child-centred manner across Sabah,” Sonia said.
