Early childhood care and education (ECCE) will be another emerging area for the Malaysian Government through the signing of the Putrajaya Declaration. The Declaration was a badge of commitment from ASEAN policy-makers in developing a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable ECCE.

ECCE is an entry point project (EPP) under the Malaysian Education National Key Economic Area (NKEA). The EPP aims to improve and raise the standards of ECCE teachers through certification and training. The nation’s target is to have 200,000 qualified ECCE educators by the year 2020. Through this EPP, a conglomerate of seven private education institutions have been established to look at developing quality diploma programmes to cater to up skilling the current workforce.

More recent policy changes saw the government requiring all ECCE teachers working in childcare and pre-school centres to have at least a Diploma qualification by the year 2020. All ECCE establishments are also required to hire only diploma holders from next year onwards.

In the most recent Malaysia Education Blueprint Annual Report 2015, 41 per cent of the nation’s total ECCE teachers are already equipped with a Diploma qualification. This has surpassed the Blueprint’s target of having 30 per cent of Diploma-qualified ECCE educators. While the majority of the qualified ECCE educators are from public institutions, only 24 per cent of those from the private sector are holding at least a diploma qualification.

The policy change by the Malaysian government is certainly something positive for the UK international education sector. With the change, UK institutions offering both pathway and higher education courses in early childhood care and education will expect to see an opportunity in promoting their ECCE programmes. There is also a gap in the provision and availability of early childhood education for children with special needs in the country which the UK sector can tap into.

Commentary by Jennifer Wan, British Council Malaysia

The Malaysian government is also aiming to have the workforce comprise of at least 59 per cent women by 2020 and thus, there will be a foreseeable increase in need for childcare centres and suitably qualified professionals to staff these centres. It is expected that at least 13,200 registered childcare centres are required by 2020 to cater to increasing demand and with just over 5,400 centres currently registered, there is a critical shortage in the country.

The qualifications of childcare providers in Malaysia have traditionally been unregulated with many providers being ‘experienced’ babysitters and sometimes, grandparents themselves. Many working couples also engage the services of foreign labour, mainly domestic helpers, to take care of their children. Similarly, a number of childcare operators employ the same foreign labour to look after the children entrusted under their care. The quality provided by such childcare providers and centres, therefore, are questionable.

Although parents are welcoming to the idea of sending their children to a registered centre with qualified childcare professionals, the cost in engaging a registered centre with qualified staff is a lot more compared to an unregistered centre or getting a domestic helper. This is especially true in rural and semi-rural areas where the household income simply would not permit the fees charged by these centres.

The government, on the other hand, is currently looking at ways to regulate the sector and address the challenges, and these includes recognising childcare as a profession, providing online and on-the-job training to providers to reduce costs and the provision of subsidies to corporate organisations in setting up childcare centres.

For more information on the market and how British Council can help promote your institution in Malaysia, please contact Jennifer Wan