Construction Of 350 Preschool Classes Not Only For Primary School

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- The construction of 350 new preschool classes is not limited to primary schools, but also other institutions under the Ministry of Education (MOE), said Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh.

He said the initiative includes secondary schools, vocational colleges, matriculation and Teacher Education Institutes (IPG).

“Access to early childhood education is a matter given great focus by the MOE and the MADANI Government to ensure that children entering Year One have adequate preparation,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was this in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah (BN-Paya Besar) on access and quality of early childhood education during the oral question and answer session.

Wong said that RM125 million has been allocated for the construction of preschools at the MOE level as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim through Budget 2026.

Responding to Mohd Shahar's original question on government spending on preschools compared to other levels of education, Wong said RM1.08 billion has been allocated from the ministry's overall allocation of RM64.1 billion for early childhood education or preschool in 2025.

He said that of the RM1.08 billion allocation, RM1.077 billion was for emoluments, while RM9.25 million was for non-emoluments.

The ministry, he said, was also focusing on enhancing teacher competencies to ensure they are prepared to implement the 2026 preschool curriculum, which will be officially introduced in 2026, in line with efforts to improve the quality of preschool education.

"In  2025, curriculum upgrading training is implemented in phases involving master trainers at the national, state, and district levels before being extended to preschool teachers nationwide,” he said, adding that the approach aims to strengthen teachers’ understanding of curriculum content and the implementation of new teaching and learning methods.

He said the MOE had allocated RM3.38 million for the development of models and modules, as well as the implementation of preschool teacher training programmes.

The initiatives include the development of training modules, value operationalisation workshops and teacher professionalism enhancement programmes.

“Overall, this effort will not only boost teachers’ confidence in implementing the new curriculum but also ensure that preschool students are developed holistically, intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and physically,” he added.

-- BERNAMA