Education Ministry to focus on preschool expansion this month, says minister

KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry has made it compulsory for several institutions under its purview to provide space to set up preschool classes for children as young as five, says Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

She said the expansion of preschool classes would take place in stages, starting from the school session which commences next week.

“The expansion and addition of preschool classes in all institutions under the ministry’s purview are the current focus, besides strengthening the educational curriculum.

“The expansion of preschools will happen rapidly because the ministry has made it compulsory for all 27 Teacher Education Institutes (IPG), vocational colleges and secondary schools to provide preschool premises,” she told the media after the opening ceremony of Permata youth entrepreneurship carnival here today (March 6).

Fadhlina also said the ministry is mobilising a special task force, engaged in six initiatives aimed at bolstering national education, with one specifically targeting preschool education.

She said the ministry is giving full focus to the issue of curriculum coordination and to look into the importance of preschool education.

“Secondly, in terms of quality, our preschool teachers are all graduates.

“The third goal is to make all preschools an accessible choice for parents from the B40 community. Its aim is to address dropout rates, malnutrition and provide early interventions crucial for children's development.

“Preschool education under the ministry is free and we want the people to choose this,” she said.