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PM Unveils New Education Blueprint

Jan 20, 2026

The PM has unveiled the National Education Blueprint 2026-2035, which contains major reforms from pre-school right up to higher education level.  

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says starting next year, parents will have the choice to send their children to pre-school from 5 years of age. 

They can then begin primary school a year later.    

This year will also see the return of centralised exams for primary and lower secondary students.  

Datuk Seri Anwar says the primary school assessment starts this year, for pupils in Year Four.  

They will be tested on Bahasa Melayu, English, Science and Maths.  

Form Three students will also have an assessment, which will also include history.  

However, the Education Minister has since pointed out that these assessments are not related to the UPSR and PT3, and stressed that these abolished exams are NOT being revived.  

The Education Blueprint also makes it compulsory for all students to sit for the Bahasa Melayu and History SPM papers regardless of Education Stram, including religious and international schools, and institutions under the UEC.  

Also, TVET education will be introduced earlier, in form one.  

The Higher Education Ministry will take over the entire pre-university system, including Form Six and matriculation. 

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also announced free higher education for 3,000 disabled students at at public higher learning institutions, polytechnics and community colleges. 

Meanwhile 10,000 students from hardcore poor families will receive free higher education under PTPTN.