Parent guide
Year 1 in 2027: ages, dates and how to plan the year before
From 2027, Malaysian children can start Year 1 at six, if their parents choose. The Ministry first announced online registration for 15 February to 31 March 2026, and published a later FAQ on 7 October 2026. Here is what the Ministry said, who it covers, where to check what is possible now, and how to think about the year before.
What the Ministry announced
In a media statement dated 28 January 2026, the Ministry of Education (KPM) said Year 1 registration for the 2027 academic year would run online from 15 February to 31 March 2026, through the Ministry's integrated system MOEIS at idme.moe.gov.my.
Registration was open to Malaysian citizen children in two cohorts, a six year cohort (5+) and a seven year cohort (6+). The statement says this follows the Government's decision to let six year olds enter Year 1 from 2027 voluntarily and without sitting a screening test. Parents were advised to register an idMe account, update their details and apply through MOEIS within the period, and to refer to the KPM portal, the state education department (JPN) or the district education office (PPD) for more information.
Which cohort is my child in?
| Cohort | Date of birth | Year 1 in 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Six years (5+) | 2 January to 31 December 2021 | Voluntary, without a screening test |
| Seven years (6+) | 2 January 2020 to 1 January 2021 | The usual Year 1 cohort |
Three examples, read from the table:
- A child born on 15 August 2021 is in the six year cohort, so Year 1 in 2027 is a choice for the family.
- A child born on 10 May 2020 is in the seven year cohort, the usual group starting Year 1 in 2027.
- Birthdays on 1 and 2 January 2021 fall either side of the line: 1 January 2021 is in the seven year cohort, 2 January 2021 in the six year cohort.
Can I still apply for 2027?
The 15 February to 31 March 2026 window is the period the Ministry first announced in January. It is history now, but it does not tell you what is possible today. On 7 October 2026 KPM published a later FAQ on Year 1 registration for 2027. We could not open the full FAQ document when we checked on 3 November 2026, so we do not list current options or deadlines here.
If you have not registered a child for 2027, read the latest KPM FAQ, then ask your state education department (JPN) or district education office (PPD) what applies to your child's cohort now.
If you have read earlier material about a test or assessment for six year olds, note that the Ministry's 28 January 2026 statement says six year olds may enter Year 1 without sitting a screening test.
Planning the year before
If your child is in the six year cohort, the family decision is usually between Year 1 in 2027 and one more year of kindergarten before Year 1 in 2028. There is no test to pass, so the question is what suits your child. Things families often weigh:
- How your child manages self care: the toilet, eating, and looking after their own things.
- How they cope with a longer, more structured day and with following group instructions.
- The language of the primary school you are considering. In a national school (SK) the medium is Bahasa Melayu, in an SJKC it is Mandarin, and in an SJKT it is Tamil.
- What their kindergarten teachers see day to day. Ask them directly.
- Practical matters: siblings, school transport, and your working hours.
Whichever you choose, registration dates for later intakes are set and announced by the Ministry. Watch the KPM portal rather than relying on past dates.
At SunnySeeds
Our Kindergarten is for ages 5 and 6, in K1 and K2. Mandarin lessons cover new words, pinyin, strokes and stroke order, story retelling, rhymes and tongue twisters, alongside Bahasa Melayu and English, with reading in all three. From age 6, children can prepare for Cambridge English Qualifications at their own level. We prepare children for the move to primary school, but we cannot promise a place at any school or a particular level of fluency: Year 1 places are allocated through the Ministry's registration.
Sources
- KPM media statement, Pendaftaran Murid Tahun 1 bagi Kalendar Akademik Tahun 2027, dated 28 January 2026 (PDF, Malay)
- KPM, FAQ Pendaftaran Murid Tahun 1 Kalendar Akademik 2027, published 7 October 2026 (Malay)
Sources checked 3 November 2026. Official pages can change, so check the source before acting on a date or rule.
Related guides
- Getting ready for Primary 1: the everyday skills to talk about at homeCommunication, routines, independence and asking for help, with a printable conversation checklist for home and the teacher meeting.
- Kurikulum Prasekolah 2026: what parents should knowWhat the Ministry of Education circular for the new national preschool curriculum sets out, in plain English, and the questions it lets you ask.
- Preschool fees in Klang: how to compare the full costEvery line that makes up the real cost of a preschool year, how to add it up, and a blank worksheet to print for your visits.
- All parent guidesFourteen guides for parents of children aged 2 to 6.
FAQ
Questions parents ask
Can my six year old start Year 1 in 2027?
Yes, if your child is a Malaysian citizen born between 2 January and 31 December 2021. The Ministry of Education says entry at six from 2027 is voluntary and needs no screening test.
Can I still apply for Year 1 in 2027?
The Ministry first announced online registration for 15 February to 31 March 2026. KPM published a later FAQ on Year 1 registration for 2027 on 7 October 2026. Check that FAQ, and ask your state education department (JPN) or district education office (PPD) what applies to your child's cohort now.
Does my child need to sit a test to enter Year 1 at six?
No. The Ministry's statement of 28 January 2026 says six year olds may enter Year 1 from 2027 without sitting a screening test.
Book a school visit
Come during morning school hours to see what we do, and bring your child along.