Diploma required as minimum qualification for child caregivers

Caregivers at childcare centres are required to posses at least a minimum diploma in early childhood education management, according to the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM).

Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), said that caregivers in the nation need to be equipped with the appropriate knowledge, capability and preparedness to look after and teach children under their care.

“In developed countries, caregivers for children under three are trained professionally and must at least possess a diploma as they are able to provide quality education needed to shape the future of the children,” she said.

She added that the matter had been discussed on previous occasions by the Education Ministry.

Those discussions have included education and training for kindergarten levels. However, the proposed rule would make it compulsory to fulfill the main requirement of possessing a diploma if one wishes to pursue a career in childcare.