Malaysia's Ministry of Education is reducing the recruitment of contract teachers (COS) following a significant drop in Year 1 applications. Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh revealed that only 73,386 applications were recorded for six-year-olds. This figure falls drastically short of the original projection of 400,000 students. The unexpected shortfall in enrollment has directly impacted the government's staffing requirements. Consequently, the ministry is adjusting its hiring strategy to align with the actual number of students. This move aims to prevent overstaffing within the primary education system. The disparity between the projected and actual figures highlights a notable trend in early childhood enrollment.