SHAH ALAM, Jan 30 — The Education Malaysia (MOE) will employ the Industrialised Building System (IBS) to add classrooms to dense schools, ahead of the entry of six-year-olds into Year One next year.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said the approach is a short-term move to accommodate the higher number of students due to the Year One “double cohort”, which would comprise both six- and seven-year-olds.
He added that the double cohort would put pressure on existing schools’ capacities, so MOE is assessing preparedness of education institutions nationwide, reported Sinar Harian.
“Not all schools are dense; there are many with enough room and don’t have problems with their facilities,” Wong told reporters after a visit to Yuk Choy High School in Ipoh today.
He explained that the IBS would allow the additional buildings to be completed earlier — around four to five months after approval — compared with the conventional method that usually takes two to three years.
“The IBS method isn’t new; it has been in practice for two or three years, especially in dense schools like in Cyberjaya, to ensure additional classrooms are ready as soon as possible,” he added.
He said that for now, MOE is assessing each school’s needs before making any decision, so each action is targeted and precise.
Besides infrastructure, Wong said school operational planning and teacher preparedness are the main focus for MOE to facilitate the entry of six-year-olds into Year One.
Previously, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the cost of building a classroom has significantly risen in the past five years, with costs rising from RM180,000-RM250,000 from 2016 to 2020, up to RM280,000-RM520,000 from 2021-2026, for a block comprising classrooms, stairs, corridors and toilets.
