MOE prioritises new preschool curriculum, education development plan for 2026

KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of a new preschool curriculum and the launch of an Education Development Plan will be among the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) top priorities for the 2026 school session, said Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

She said 2026 would be a crucial year following the return of the school calendar to a January start, and would also see the early introduction of the new preschool curriculum, which was initially scheduled for 2027.

“The MOE’s main focus is the implementation of the new preschool curriculum. The second priority is the Education Development Plan, which is scheduled to be launched in January,” she said at the Ceria ke Sekolah programme organised by the ERM Foundation in the Bandar Tun Razak constituency.

Also present were Bandar Tun Razak MP Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and the Prime Minister’s political secretary, Azman Abidin.

In a separate development, Fadhlina said the school assistance initiative had helped ease the financial burden on parents, particularly those from low-income families.

She said 800 students received aid at the programme, with the total number of beneficiaries in the Bandar Tun Razak constituency estimated at about 5,000.

She added that the initiative was in line with the Madani government’s commitment to safeguarding children’s educational welfare and ensuring they are better prepared for the school session.

Meanwhile, Wan Azizah said the programme reflected a collective concern to assist underprivileged families, and expressed appreciation to the ERM Foundation for its continued support for students.

ERM Foundation founder Xin Er said the foundation provided RM300 in financial aid along with school supplies to 800 students, adding that it hoped to continue the initiative on an annual basis.