Fadhlina said the policy, which involves amending the Education Act 1996, aims to enhance the secondary education system and help improve students’ lives by enabling better exam results.

“We hope that these steps will be effectively implemented to resolve issues related to attendance and dropouts, and improve the quality of education in the country,” she told a press conference after attending an early schooling aid (BAP) handover ceremony today.

It was previously reported that a bill to amend the Education Act 1996 to make education compulsory up to the secondary school level is expected to be tabled at the Dewan Rakyat next month.

Separately, Fadhlina said the ministry was open to extending the BAP to preschool students if necessary.

“If there is a valid reason and the need is there, we will not hesitate to consider it. For this year, however, we will begin with Form 6 students (on July 1),” she said.

The government has allocated a total of RM791,250,000 specifically for one-off BAP payments of RM150 per student.

More than 5.2 million students are expected to benefit from the programme, aimed at helping pupils secure school supplies for the new school year.

Fadhlina also called for the education ministry to be given until Feb 6 to resolve the issue of students missing the 2024 Bahasa Melayu SPM paper.

She said that the figures in circulation were premature and had been exaggerated, as the SPM exams were still ongoing.