Incentives and standards for preschool operators by MOE OUM LEARNING CENTRES T he Ministry of Education Malaysia came out with a proposal of enforcing the rule that all private preschool teachers must have a minimum qualification of a diploma as it gears towards streamlining the educational standards of all private preschool teachers by 2020. There are currently 26,810 early childhood education teachers in private preschools registered with the ministry. Out of that number, only 2.6 per cent possess a diploma in early childhood education. This is a worrying figure, especially where special needs children are involved. According to Open University Malaysia’s Vice-Chancelor Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali, OUM is one of 11 private institutions in Malaysia that offer a diploma programme in early childhood education. The programme aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to be employed in the childcare sector and in preschools. Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali, Open University Malaysia’s Vice-Chancelor. Many preschool teachers possess substantial experience in teaching despite not having the necessary early childhood education qualifications. This is why the ministry has relaxed the minimum entry requirements to only two credits in the SPM examination plus three years of working experience or five years of working experience for those with only one SPM credit. This entry requirement, however, will be valid only until 2018. This is in line with ministry’s target of ensuring all private preschool teachers have at least a diploma in early childhood education as minimum qualification by the year 2020. Senior lecturer and Early Childhood Education (ECE) programme coordinator Dr Azhar Md Adnan says that their students are given the opportunity to attend and obtain a certificate in Kursus Asuhan Awal Kanak-Kanak Permata (Permata Early Childhood Education Programme). “This is an added incentive as they will be able to carry out their practicum at their respective preschool centres without having to take an extended leave for it,” he says. OUM, being an educational institution catering to working adults, has made it very convenient for its students to further their studies. In addition to being accredited, its programmes are carried out bilingually. “English and Bahasa Malaysia i-tutorials and materials are available. Even exams are bilingual,” adds Dr Azhar. The Ministry of Education Malaysia (MoEM) is very supportive of OUM in its bid to standardise the education level of the private preschool workforce. Beside lowering the entry requirements, MoEM is also providing financial aid of RM1,000.00 per academic year for three years to students who maintain a CGPA of 2.5 and above. Dr. Azhar, the vice-president of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Council Malaysia, spent 10 years in the United Kingdom while doing his PhD that focused on parental involvement in early childhood education. He says that all OUM students are guaranteed to be exceedingly ICT-literate once they complete their respective courses because with its blended learning approach, OUM gives its students the opportunity to study on their tablets and smartphones with videos, i-tutorials and study materials. Kuala Lumpur Sri Rampai 03-2773 2002 03-4143 3966 Selangor Petaling Jaya Shah Alam Bangi 03-7954 0546 03-5511 0701 03-8922 2294 Perak Ipoh Greenhill Manjung 05-254 6006 05-249 0920 05-688 7576 Pulau Pinang Seberang Jaya SEAMEO-RECSAM 04-390 2006 04-657 8822 Kedah Alor Setar Sungai Petani 04-720 1003 04-441 8582 Kelantan Kota Bahru Kuala Krai 09-741 8606 09-741 8606 Terengganu Kuala Terengganu 09-662 1333 Pahang Kuantan Mentakab 09-517 3535 09-517 3535 Negeri Sembilan Seremban 06-761 1003 Melaka 06-292 1852 Johor Johor Bahru Batu Pahat Mersing Pasir Gudang 07-221 2006 07-438 1788 07-221 2006 07-221 2006 Sarawak Kuching Sibu Miri Bintulu 082-450 602 084-217 514 015-4871 0100 015-4871 0100 Sabah Kota Kinabalu Sandakan Tawau Kota Marudu Lahad Datu 088-712 680 089-226 019 089-751 300 088-712 652 089-751 300