Hi parents, are you sending your child born in 2021 to Standard One in 2027?

I’m a bit worried because my child is banana and just started attending a SJKC © linked kindergarten this year.

I visited Popular bookstore and was shocked at how advanced the Standard One syllabus is.

My wife and I are still deciding, but we’re inclined towards letting him start Standard One next year since I heard the government will introduce an easier syllabus for the earlier intake.

What about you? What are your plans? If you’re not sending your child next year, what are your main concerns?

during my time, i had classmates who skipped standard 6 to join Form 1 chinese independent high school (obviously is SJKC primary). so skipping 1 year can be later on

my husband said, why not, can saved a lot of money, plus kids learn things fast. at first i also dont feel like sending but after heard my husband say like that, macam yes. anyway mine was born in 2023 and currently study-ing in chinese-based school. memang want her to strengthen her language to prep her to next school stage.

academic wise.... i know next year will have next syllabus but no harm to check what current standard 1 students are learning in school.. and ask yourself if your child can catch up? some kids have 3 years of kindergarten education..

physical wise... your child is born early/mid/end of the year? if end of the year, your child is almost 2 years smaller than those 7 years born early of the year.. 2 years gap at the age is a lot of difference

behavior wise.. if your child doing well in kindy? can your child strive in a larger group? can your child hold attention for a normal primary 1 class?

This post has been edited by seather: Mar 27 2026, 04:21 PM

I am not sure how many schools are "readily prepared" to take on both the 6 and 7 years old in their Standard 1 classes, that's one concern. Maybe it would feel a bit different if this was already initiated few years ago and my kid is not the "beta-tester."

Kids being kids, I am more inclined to let him enjoy his childhood a little more in kindergarten and let him "grow up a bit more with lesser stress." Let him be more matured and strengthen his coping mechanism first.

Yeah, should be great to save some money but his education is already financially planned for from the moment we started sending him to kindergarten, so no need to change it.

However my case, my strongest argument is that my son is a December month end kid. Worry about him feeling different, outpaced and growth by kids who are 7yo, would make him feel alienated. Especially nowadays bullying is quite rampant, for the smallest issues like from being able to cope with class activities to body size differences.

I remember my happy days in kindergarten. Things like celebrating friends' birthday, my parents coming to my school concert, class trips with my friends, less competitive but much more fun sports day with my parents involved and etc. And so I would like him to have the same or at least try to provide it for him.

This post has been edited by Lahaha: Apr 6 2026, 10:47 AM

I would not take this risk ... if the plan is to send them to SJKC, then better let them prepare well in preschool first till 7 years old only enter primary one.
The SJKC syllabus is really much more intense than normal SRK.
The kids would ended up need to compete against those 7 years old which already have better preparation and not to forget, there is still many SJKC that still practise in-school exam which can be another type of pressure to the kids.

Decided to send my child to standard 1.

To my surprise, my child love mandarin a lot and most of the kid communicate well in english.

Plus point is that he enjoy going to school.

The SJKC that i apply to, apply project learning teaching method. Not much exam or homework.

Finger cross