Malaysia School Academic Calendar 2025/2026: Key Dates and Holidays

 The 2025/2026 Academic Calendar which lists down school days and school holidays for students in Malaysia is out.

You can view the calendar below. If you wish to download a copy, the pdf of the calendar can be downloaded from the Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia website:  Kalendar Akademik Sesi 2025/2026. 

Some notable dates or things to note:

On which day will school start in 2025?

The school year will start in February 2025 as Malaysia prepares to shift its academic year over time to start in January as it used to be previously. 16th of February for Group A schools and 17th February for Group B schools.

Johor reverts to Saturday and Sunday weekends from 1st January 2025

There are usually two calendars. One for schools in states which observe Saturday and Sunday as weekend ie Group B schools and another for schools in states which observe Friday and Saturday as weekend ie Group A schools. Since Johor will revert to Saturday and Sunday as weekend with effect from 1st January 2025, it will then follow the academic calendar for Group B.

Year end holidays and start of school in 2026

Year end holidays is from 19th or 20th December 2025 till 10th or 11th of January 2026, suggesting that school will start on 11th or 12th of January in 2026.

Festive Holidays

Chinese New Year holidays

As usual, the academic calendar has a separate section for festive holidays. The first festive holidays in 2025 is Chinese New Year. If you notice that it is missing in the festive holidays page, that is because Chinese New Year 2025 falls during the end of academic year 2024/2025 holidays. 

The first two days of Chinese New Year in 2025 which is usually a public holiday falls on 29th and 30th of January 2025. The end of academic year 2024/2025 holidays is from 17th or 18th January 2025 until 15th or 16th February 2025. You can check the dates here in the academic calendar for 2024/2025.

Hari Raya holidays

Hari Raya is a little earlier in 2025 with school holidays at the end of March and early April 2025.

With the holidays out, you can now start planning your travel schedule and leave application to spend time with the children during their school holidays as well as have a better idea of the dates involved when you start to plan for transport, activities, tuition and exams.

Math Olympiad: A Platform for Math Recognition

The Math Olympiad is a globally recognized competition designed to challenge young minds and nurture their mathematical talents. It provides students with a platform to showcase their skills, improve problem-solving abilities, and compete with peers worldwide. These competitions encourage logical thinking and analytical reasoning, skills crucial for academic and future professional success.

Participating in a Math Olympiad boosts a student’s confidence and opens up opportunities for recognition, scholarships, and further education. High achievers often receive prestigious awards such as certificates, medals and trophies but beyond the accolades, the experience itself fosters personal growth and learning. The competitions are an excellent way for students to push their limits and discover their full mathematical potential.

Eye Level Math Olympiad 2024

One of the standout competitions is the Eye Level Math Olympiad (ELMO), which invites participants from Grade 1 to Grade 8 to test their math skills on a global platform. ELMO emphasizes individualized learning, providing participants with detailed performance analyses. This feedback helps students understand their strengths and areas for improvement, making ELMO not just a competition but a valuable learning experience.

ELMO participants are not only eligible for certificates and medals, but top scorers also stand a chance to win cash prizes. Open to both Eye Level members and non-members, this competition provides young learners with an opportunity to shine in mathematics, no matter their starting point. ELMO’s comprehensive approach ensures students of all levels benefit from the experience.

In 2024, ELMO registration runs from October 1st to October 31st, with the competition taking place from November 23rd until 24th November, nationwide. 

Interested students may register here and they can choose the venue they are convenient with. Eye Level members are charged RM30 while non-members will be charged RM50.

With over 60,000 participants from more than 15 countries, it promises to be an enriching experience. Whether your child is looking to challenge themselves or gain valuable insights into their mathematical ability, ELMO offers an exciting opportunity to grow and succeed. Register today and let your child showcase their math skills globally.

When is Deepavali 2024 school holidays?

 When is Deepavali in 2024? 

Deepavali 2024 will be on 31st October 2024 which is a Thursday. 
  

Parents in our Facebook group, The Malaysia Primary School Parents Group on Facebook have been asking "When is Deepavali 2024 school holidays?" Some parents saw notices from some schools on the holidays and wanted to know if their child's school will also be having the holidays as stated in the notices. 

Well, it's always good to know ahead so we can plan ahead. Plan when to apply for leave and whether to balik kampung or go on a mini vacation. 

Let's revisit the notice from the Ministry of Education on the academic calendar for 2024/2025. There is a Lampiran C which specifically states the festive holidays or cuti Perayaan as shown below.

The National public holiday for Deepavali falls on Deepavali day which is Thursday, 31st October, 2024.

For schools in Kumpulan A which observe Friday and Saturday as weekend, an extra school holiday has been allocated on Wednesday 30th October. Since Friday and Saturday is a weekend for schools in Kumpulan A, this means that the total days off for Deepavali will be from Wednesday, 30th October 2024 to Saturday, 2nd November 2024.

For Schools in Kumpulan B which observe Saturday and Sunday as weekend, two extra days of school holidays have been allocated on Wednesday, 30th October and Friday, 1st November 2024. Together with the Deepavali public holiday and weekends, this will mean that the overall Deepavali holiday will be from Wednesday, 30th October 2024 to Sunday, 3rd November 2024.

The National public holiday for Deepavali on 31st October, 2024 excludes Sarawak. However schools in Sarawak will have the day off on Thursday, 31st October 2024 followed by a day of school before the weekend on Saturday, 2nd November and Sunday, 3rd November 2024.

Hope this makes it clearer for parents to plan their schedule.

Reading & Writing is a Must to Learn English

Today's digital age, where electronic devices are prevalent, presents a challenge to parents. Due to this, reading and writing skills are often overlooked. Many children face difficulties in these areas, even if they excel in other subjects. Research shows that excessive use of electronic screens can hinder children's language development, particularly in reading and writing.

The foundation of learning English or any other language is literacy. Being part of your child's literacy journey involves more than buying them books and watching them read. It's about helping them understand what they read and encouraging discussions about the content, both verbally and in writing. To support your child's success in their English learning journey, we've compiled strategies to help them master reading and writing skills.

Actively Read out the Words

For children in the early reading stage, read alongside them loudly. Literacy will take shape once they are used to seeing and hearing the words. This is the basis of learning phonics and engraving phonemic awareness.

Always encourage your child to pronounce the words. Use pictures or real-life objects that relate to the words they are trying to pronounce. If there are any words that they are struggling with, let them write those words. This would stimulate their motor skills and establish their writing technique. From there they will develop a connection to the language and use that to describe the world around them. Based on the reading material, ask questions that enable them to recall what they have just read. This would help them start conversations naturally.

Confidence in Writing is by Practicing

Practicing writing here does not simply refer to them doing writing exercises in a book. It is to let them experience and practice writing freely. Journaling is a common concept as it encourages children to compartmentalize their emotions and thoughts onto a piece of paper. There are also card-writing and letter-writing that help them write to a person.

The aim of having them practice is for them to grow more confident in their writing technique and writing out their voice. Read with them what they write and ask them to try again if some words remain unclear.

Comprehensive Learning Program

A more effective method than participating in various activities is structured learning through a program that systematically teaches reading and writing to children. It would be particularly beneficial if this program offered an integrated approach to teaching the English language. The learning environment of the program can also accelerate their learning while ensuring that they achieve full mastery.

Eye Level English is equipped with engaging booklets and teaching tools that can boost your child’s literacy in English as early as 4 years old. Flashcards, sound charts, you name it. Our literacy program is all-inclusive from phonics to reading and then writing. We offer blended learning for students to engage in online and offline materials. Lastly, we expose them to content knowledge so they would acquire broad knowledge in multiple topics like art, history and literature.

Eye Level is coming to the Malaysia Kids’ Expo in Pavillion Bukit Jalil from 30th August - 1st September where you can find out more about Eye Level programs for your child. We will have fun activities and collect an exclusive voucher for you to enroll. Come on over!

About Eye Level

Eye Level is a global educational organization that enhances children's potential through tailored math and English programs. With a focus on individualized learning, Eye Level strives to make education enjoyable and fulfilling for every student, ensuring learning that's always at your child's level. Find out more at myeyelevel.com

This post was brought to you by Eye Level Malaysia

Celebrating 20 Years of Educational Excellence: Eye Level Malaysia's Journey

This July 2024, Eye Level Malaysia is celebrating a significant milestone – 20 years of empowering young minds and fostering academic excellence across the nation. Since its establishment in 2004, Eye Level Malaysia has grown into a trusted name in the education sector, known for its innovative approach and commitment to nurturing students’ potential.

A Remarkable Journey

From its humble beginnings as a single learning center, Eye Level Malaysia has expanded nationwide and has positively impacted the lives of thousands of students. The journey has been driven by a unique educational philosophy that focuses on individualized learning paces and tailored instruction, setting Eye Level apart in a competitive landscape.

A Commitment to Individualised Learning

At the heart of Eye Level's success is its philosophy of 'Learning That’s Always at Your Child’s Level.' This guiding principle underpins Eye Level’s mission to provide comprehensive and tailored educational programs in Mathematics and English. For 2 decades, Eye Level has been committed to nurturing children's potential through individualized learning experiences. We tailored math and English programs to cater to children aged 4-15, promoting critical thinking and academic achievement in a supportive environment. By catering to the diverse needs of students, Eye Level ensures each child progresses at their own pace, mastering foundational concepts along the way.

"We are immensely proud to celebrate 20 years of Eye Level Malaysia," said Mr. Brian Kim, Country Manager of Eye Level Malaysia. "This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to educational excellence and the trust that parents and students have placed in us. As we look to the future, we remain dedicated to evolving and enhancing our programs to meet the changing needs of our students."

Looking Ahead

As Eye Level Malaysia embarks on its next chapter, the organization is poised to continue its legacy of excellence in education. With plans to expand its reach and introduce new, innovative programs, Eye Level is committed to shaping the future of education in Malaysia and beyond. Last year Eye Level Malaysia launched Puzzle Challenge Pack (PCP), a puzzle toy for children to develop their mind and motor skills from the early age of 4 years old. This year Eye Level Malaysia is going to launch TuniTuni, a play gym for kids 18-60 months old. It is another brand from Korea as well and is widely considered the no 1 kids' gym over there.

Eye Level Malaysia's 20th-anniversary celebration is not just a look back at the past, but also a vision for the future – a future where every student is empowered to reach their fullest potential.

Eye Level 20th Anniversary Promotion

Enroll your child during our special 20th Anniversary Promotion from July 1-31, 2024, and receive a limited edition Eye Level Block Set. Visit myeyelevel.com for more details or Google Eye Level Malaysia. Visit any of our 100 centers in Malaysia if you prefer to walk in.

For more information about Eye Level Malaysia and the 20th-anniversary promotion, visit www.myeyelevel.com or contact one of our 100 learning centers nationwide.

This post was brought to you by Eye Level Malaysia.

About Eye Level

Eye Level is a global educational organization dedicated to enhancing children's potential through tailored math and English programs. With a focus on individualized learning, Eye Level strives to make education enjoyable and fulfilling for every student, ensuring learning that's always at your child’s level.