Malaysia’s primary school early entry option spurs fears of ‘herd effect’ competition

A sweeping shake-up on when Malaysian children can start school and how they are assessed has sparked fresh anxiety among parents, many of whom fear an “optional” earlier entry would fuel a de facto race, while schools may struggle with space and staffing. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday that children would be allowed to enter Year One of primary school at age six from 2027, a year earlier than the current norm, alongside a new standardised assessment framework known as the Malaysia...