FEWER than 10% of kindergarten teachers have tertiary academic qualifications, despite a new ruling coming into force on January 1, 2020 that requires them to hold at least a diploma in early childhood education, said a teachers’ association.

The requirement for the academic qualification was mooted in 2016 in a bid to improve the quality of preschool education.

The situation appears to be dire, with many kindergartens facing an uncertain future, according to the Penang Kindergarten Teachers’ Association.

Its president, Sally Ng Chit Peng, said one kindergarten in Penang has already been forced to close due to the lack of qualified teachers.

“Enrolments are already being affected, with more schools opening now. The lack of teachers will further impact the industry and force some kindergartens to close,” Ng told The Malaysian Insight.

She said there has been no updates from the Education Ministry following a letter announcing the ruling in 2017.

“We are still waiting. We don’t know if the ministry will go ahead with the enforcement or give an extension. If it goes ahead with its plans, many teachers will lose their jobs.”

She said in the meantime, the association has encouraged teachers to apply for a professional diploma.

“Some older teachers may face some problems because most kindergarten teachers are mothers who have a family to take care of, and it takes at least 2½ years to get a professional diploma, with costs ranging from between RM12,000 and RM15,000,” she said, adding that this was a burden for many.

The association is also trying to enlist the Education Ministry to help teachers with at least 10 year’’ experience acquire the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (Apel) certificate, she said.

Ng added that although there are graduates from private universities, many lack experience.

“There are preschool teachers with diplomas in the market but the industry prefers to retain experienced teachers. We cannot just replace the unqualified batch and replace them with new ones just because they have certificates.”

Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said in May that the ruling only applies to new recruits.

Senior teachers who have been working for many years will not be required to hold certificates, she said.

Ng said the ministry should define the rules clearly, especially for those without certificates. – December 31, 2019.