Latest news with #EducationAct1996

Barnama
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Barnama
MOE Prioritises Probe Into Zara Qairina's Death
KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the ministry is giving top priority to the case of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir, who died after being found unconscious in a drain near a school hostel in Papar, Sabah. She gave her assurance that a fair and transparent investigation would be carried out to ensure justice is served. 'We are fully cooperating with the Royal Malaysia Police. So, for this matter, all aspects related to assisting the investigation are being given full attention … we also need to be fair by ensuring the well-being of the school community,' she said. She said this when winding up the debate on the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat today. Zara Qairina, 13, was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu at 11 am on July 17. She had been taken to the hospital for treatment after being found unconscious in a drain near the hostel of a religious school at 4 am on July 16. Meanwhile, Fadhlina said the amendments to the Education Act 1996 (Act 550), which were passed in the Dewan Rakyat tonight to make secondary education compulsory, aim to ensure that parents share responsibility in their children's education. She said the Ministry of Education (MOE) is committed to ensuring that children continue to attend school even if they face various challenges, including poverty. 'We have coordinated assistance at the MOE level to ensure that our children receive the necessary support, be it in terms of scholarships or other school-related assistance such as uniforms and so on,' she said.

Barnama
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Dewan Rakyat Passes Bill To Make Secondary Education Compulsory
KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- The national education system has entered a new chapter after the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, aimed at making secondary education compulsory, was passed by the Dewan Rakyat tonight. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, when winding up the debate on the bill, described the amendment to the Education Act 1996 (Act 550) as a historic and crucial moment in human capital development through the national education system. 'Education is the birthright of every child, meaning every child is born with the right to receive education,' she said. Earlier, during the debate session, both government and opposition Members of Parliament expressed support for the amendment, describing it as an important reform of the national education system. Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) said the initiative represented a meaningful education reform in efforts to elevate the quality of education and human capital development in the country. He also congratulated the MADANI Government for the bold initiative and felt that the move should have been implemented earlier to ensure every child received proper education. 'It will enable human capital development to be elevated to a higher level than before, so that we are on par with other countries. Imagine if we only have six years of compulsory education — how can we become a developed country?' he said. Datuk Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN-Kubang Pasu) said making secondary education compulsory could break the cycle of poverty and strengthen critical thinking, while enhancing students' employability and communication skills to participate in the economy and society. Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (GPS-Igan) said the move was timely to build a knowledgeable and competitive generation with the values of human dignity or 'karamah insaniah' as enshrined in the National Education Philosophy.


New Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Dewan Rakyat passes law making secondary schooling compulsory
KUALA LUMPUR: Amendments to the Education Act 1996 making secondary education compulsory were passed in the Dewan Rakyat today, following nearly five hours of debate by 33 Members of Parliament. The new provision — Section 32A — empowers the Education Minister to issue a gazetted order mandating secondary education. Under Section 32A, parents are now required to ensure that their Malaysian child, residing in the country, is enrolled in an educational institution for the full duration of secondary schooling. Failure to comply may result in a fine of up to RM5,000, a maximum prison term of six months, or both, unless the child has been granted an exemption.


New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Radzi seeks clarification on secondary education exemption for unregistered schools
KUALA LUMPUR: A former education minister has urged the Education Ministry to clarify whether students in unregistered private institutions or those being homeschooled will automatically be granted exemption from compulsory secondary schooling under the proposed amendments to the Education Act 1996. Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin (PN–Putrajaya) said many parents send their children aged between 13 and 17 to private institutions not registered under the Education Act, including religious and private tahfiz schools. "There are parents who enrol their children in private institutions that are not registered under the Education Act 1996, or under any federal agency law or state enactment. This includes unregistered religious schools and private tahfiz institutions," he said during the debate on the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025, which seeks to make secondary education compulsory. "My question is, once this Act is gazetted, will children currently studying in such institutions be automatically granted exemption under Section 32A(3)? Or will each parent have to apply for exemption, especially for those with children in Standard Six this year who plan to enrol them in unregistered institutions, including pondok or tahfiz schools? "If they are allowed to do so, what process must be followed to enable their children to continue studying in these institutions?" he asked. Under the proposed amendments, a new provision, Section 32A, would empower the minister to issue a gazetted order making secondary education compulsory. Failure to comply with the requirement may result in a fine of up to RM5,000, a maximum six-month jail term, or both, unless the child has been granted an exemption. The bill also proposes expanding Section 29A to cover all Malaysian children residing in the country. Currently, the section mandates only primary education for children of Malaysian citizens. Radzi also sought clarification on the future of homeschooling under the amended law. "I would like to touch on the issue of homeschooling. Once this Act is gazetted, will parents currently homeschooling their children be allowed to continue, or will they be required to register them in recognised schools?" he said. Radzi also highlighted several recent cases involving the deaths of students in school dormitories, including that of Zara Qairina Mahathir, who died on July 17 after reportedly falling from the third floor of her school hostel. He also cited the case of Muhammad Zulfan Iqbal Zaiful, who drowned during a recovery session after training at a sports school in November. "A police report was lodged, but nearly three to five months passed without any development. When I read the news, my heart ached for the parents who lost their beloved son and are still pleading for justice. "I raise this issue in this esteemed House on behalf of the parents and the rakyat, who are urging the authorities, especially the police and the ministry, to take the matter seriously. "Just because the case did not go viral, it does not mean the family should be denied justice," he said. On April 13, the Education Ministry pledged to conduct a full and transparent investigation into Muhammad Zulfan's death after his family alleged negligence.
![[UPDATED] Bill for compulsory secondary education tabled for second reading in Dewan Rakyat](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Fsecondary_school300725_1753866925.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![[UPDATED] Bill for compulsory secondary education tabled for second reading in Dewan Rakyat](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75)
New Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] Bill for compulsory secondary education tabled for second reading in Dewan Rakyat
KUALA LUMPUR: The Bill to make secondary education compulsory was tabled for its second reading in the Dewan Rakyat today. Under the proposed amendments, the government seeks to introduce a new provision — Section 32A — into the Education Act 1996, which would empower the Education Minister to issue a gazetted order making secondary education mandatory. The provision also outlines that failure to comply could result in a fine of up to RM5,000, a maximum six-month prison term, or both, unless the child has been granted an exemption. The Bill further proposes expanding the scope of Section 29A, which currently mandates only primary education for children of Malaysian citizens residing in the country. The revised provision would extend this requirement to all Malaysian children living in Malaysia, thereby strengthening educational access. Tabling the Bill, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the amendments were part of continued efforts to ensure the Act remained relevant and responsive to current realities and future challenges. "This amendment is not merely a revision of legal provisions. It reflects the Madani government's commitment to ensuring every Malaysian child receives holistic and continuous education, regardless of background or location," she said. Fadhlina said that the policy of compulsory education was not new. It was first implemented on Jan 1, 2003 under Section 29 of the Act, which mandates formal education at the primary level. "Since this policy was introduced in 2003, enrolment rates have risen significantly from 92.9 per cent in 2003 to 99.39 per cent in 2024," she said. However, she added that secondary school enrolment had not yet reached a satisfactory level. Currently, the lower secondary enrolment rate stands at 96.31 per cent, while upper secondary enrolment is at 92.6 per cent. "This indicates that some of our children are still dropping out after completing Standard 6. "Students who do not pursue secondary education face barriers to higher studies, including the lack of a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or equivalent qualification. This not only hampers career prospects but also increases the risk of social issues and criminal misconduct," she said. Fadhlina added that extending compulsory education was also a means of tackling broader societal problems. "When children remain in the school system, we reduce the risk of dropouts, child marriages, and other social issues arising from lack of access to education," she said. She stressed that the amendment's true essence lies not in the punitive measures it introduces, but in the broader goal of promoting continuous education and public awareness. "This is a collective responsibility to ensure that no child slips through the cracks. It is a reformative move — realistic in approach, guided by compassion, and grounded in the Madani values of ihsan. These principles are the foundation and guiding pillar of this amendment," she said. A total of 33 Members of Parliament are expected to debate the Bill.