By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Jan 12: Sarawak has expanded its preschool education coverage significantly for the 2026 school year, with a total of 1,552 preschool classes now operating across the State.
Sarawak Education Department director Omar Mahli said the State, which begins the new academic year under Group B on Jan 12, recorded an increase of 35 new preschool classes this year.
“In total, Sarawak now has 1,552 preschool classes operating in 1,142 educational institutions statewide.
“This means that out of 1,266 primary schools, 1,142 offer preschool education, with some schools hosting more than one class,” he said when speaking to reporters during a doorstep interview at SMK Petra Jaya here today.
According to Omar, the preschool classes are spread across various school types and communities, including remote areas.
“These include 1,319 classes in national primary schools, including four classes located in longhouses.
“We have also established 209 classes in national-type Chinese primary schools (SJKC), four classes in national secondary schools, two classes in special K-11 model schools in Long Bedian, four classes in teacher education institutes (IPG), seven classes in government-aided religious schools, and seven classes in special education national schools,” he said.
He highlighted that a preschool class at SK Batu Keling in Belaga was involved in the ProKhas (Program Khas Murid Orang Asli or Special Programme for Orang Asli Children) programme starting today, aimed at providing early education access to Penan children in remote settlements.
“There are Penan communities in two villages, Long Peran and Long Jet, where children previously did not have access to formal education.
“Through the ProKhas programme, we ensure that children in these villages can begin their education as early as preschool,” he added.
Omar also shared updated student enrolment figures across Sarawak for the 2026 school year.
“The total number of children approved to begin preschool education stands at 23,042, excluding late registrations,” he said.
For primary education, he said a total of 208,583 pupils will be schooling in 1,266 primary schools across Sarawak, including 32,709 pupils registered for Year One.
At the secondary level, a total of 190,019 students will continue their education from transition classes to Upper Form Six. This includes 179,464 students from transition classes to Form Five in 194 secondary schools statewide, with 35,628 students registered to enter Form One.
On Form Six education, Omar said the programme will continue to be implemented in Sarawak this year despite the planned takeover of upper secondary education by the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT).
“Form Six will continue to be conducted through Form Six Centres in secondary schools, managed under three operational models.
“Model One consists of Form Six colleges, with Sarawak currently having one such college in Saratok; Model Two comprises 18 Form Six Centres with at least 12 classes each; while Model Three involves 59 centres that share administration with mainstream secondary schools and have fewer than 12 classes.
“Currently, total Form Six enrolment in Sarawak stands at 10,555 students. Of this number, 10,107 students are enrolled in the humanities stream, while 385 students are in the science stream. We are still working to increase STEM enrolment for Form Six,” he explained. – DayakDaily
