Only Diploma holders to teach kindergarten soon

All preschool education agencies will be required to hire teachers with at least a diploma next year.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the establishment of academic qualifications will be fully enforced in 2020.

"Preschool teachers who are currently serving under the government and private agencies can study at any public or private universities offering diploma in early childhood education by using a special entry credentials which is the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning Experience.

"However, it is subject to the approval of the higher education institutions," he said.

Mahdzir said all agencies should pay attention to the welfare of existing pre-school teachers who do not have the qualifications to study at diploma level in the field of early childhood education.

"Pre-school education is subject to the Education Act 1996 (Act 550) under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education for children aged four to six years. On April 1, the government had approved that preschool teachers should have academic qualifications of at least a diploma in early childhood education in Malaysia," he said.

According to him, the establishment of policies is aimed at improving the quality of education at all preschools and at the same time improving the professionalism of preschool teachers in Malaysia.