KUALA LUMPUR: Feedback from stakeholders on the plan to move the school academic calendar back to the pre-pandemic timetable is needed, says Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh.

He said the ministry would hold engagement sessions with various groups including the National Union of Teaching Profession, Sarawak’s Teachers Union, and the Sabah Government Teachers Union.

“This is to get their feedback on the draft to revise the academic calendar for 2025 and 2026 before sending the document for gazettement.

“The ministry will also ensure that the academic calendars fulfil the optimum teaching and learning sessions, which are between 32 and 36 weeks,” he said during the minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.

He was replying to Mohd Misbahul Munir Masduki (PN–Parit Buntar), who had asked if the government intends to re-tune the new school year to start in January.

Wong said the academic calendar would also be aligned with the national examinations such as Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia and the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia.

In a supplementary question, Aminolhuda Hassan (PH–Sri Gading) asked Wong about the government’s preparations for the national examinations, which would coincide with the annual floods in the east coast of the peninsula, when the academic calendar returns to its original schedule.

“What are the preparations made by the government to face any natural disasters, like what had happened before?” said Aminolhuda.

Wong, in response, said the ministry, alongside its agencies that include the Education Department and district education offices, would always be on alert for such situations.

Last year, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek announced that the academic calendar would be reverted to January starting 2026, while the government has started bringing it forward in stages with the plan to start the new school year for 2025 in February.

This year, schools began on March 10 or 11, depending on the states.