guide to opening a private kindergarten in malaysia

The Complete Guide To Opening A Kindergarten In Malaysia

Did you know that you can search for the number of private kindergartens in a district via the Ministry of Education’s e-Prasekolah System?

For example, as of August 2024, there are 2,053 registered kindergartens across Selangor’s ten districts.

e prasekolah to search for number of kindergartens
Over 500 in Petaling Perdana alone!

And no matter where you decide to open your kindergarten, our guide explains how

Here’s how we’ll break it down:

  • requirements to open a kindergarten
  • licenses needed, and
  • a step-by-step guide to kindergarten registration 

Note: This guide explains how to open a kindergarten as defined by the Education Act 1996, which is ‘a place where preschool education is provided for children between the ages of four and six years old.

Any younger than four years old, and you’re thinking of opening a child care centre instead.

a baby being spoonfed to show child care facilities in malaysia for working women
The only time it’s ok to spoon-feed.

Also note that we’re citing federal kindergarten requirements, so treat this as a general guide. For state-specific information, speak to us

Let’s begin!

Requirements to open a kindergarten

Private kindergartens in Malaysia fall under the authority of the Education Act 1996, and are subject to requirements in terms of:

  • Paid up capital
  • Management
  • Staff
  • Curriculum
  • Students
  • Premises
  • Naming conventions

This is to ensure the safety of students and quality of services.

Paid up capital

Whether you incorporate a Sdn Bhd or register an Enterprise, you must have at least RM10,000 in paid up capital to register a kindergarten in Malaysia.

Management

Kindergartens in Malaysia can only be owned by Malaysians and be managed by a board of at least three governors and a Principal, all of whom must be Malaysians.

Also, kindergartens registered as a Sdn Bhd must have a minimum 30% Bumiputera shareholding (some states require more).

Principals 

In addition to being a Malaysian, Principals must also:

  • be at least 25 years old
  • have a Diploma in Early Childhood Education
  • have a valid Teaching Permit
  • have a certain number of years of experience in education
  • submit to and pass a police background check
  • receive and pass a health screening

Some states also have a maximum age limit for Principals – in Penang, for example, the maximum age limit is 66 years old.

Board of governors

In addition to being a Malaysian, the three governors must also:

  • be at least 18 years old, and
  • submit to and pass a police background check

Staff

The Ministry recognises two main types of kindergarten staff:

  1. Teachers, and
  2. Teacher’s assistants

Teachers

All teachers must be Malaysian citizens who:

  • are at least 21 years old
  • possess a valid Teaching Permit
  • have an SPM certificate or its equivalent
  • have a diploma in Early Childhood Education
  • pass a police background check and health screening

Governors and Principals can be teachers if they meet these requirements, which is how it usually works in smaller kindergartens.

There is also a minimum teacher to student ratio of 1:25.

Teacher’s assistants

All teacher’s assistants must be Malaysian citizens who:

  • are at least 18 years old
  • pass a police background check and health screening

Curriculum

Registered private kindergartens must use Malaysia’s National Preschool Curriculum

Also, if the medium of instruction is not Bahasa Melayu, then it must be taught as a dedicated subject. 

Students

Kindergartens can only enroll students aged between 4 – 6 years old, and there must be an up-to-date record of all students.

Kindergarten premises

Kindergartens can be opened in a variety of premises including: 

  • Business complexes/buildings/shop houses
  • Corporate buildings
  • Government office premises
  • Single or multi-story brick or semi-brick houses
  • Wooden buildings or houses
  • Designated kindergarten spaces in flats including apartments, condominiums, and service apartments
  • Community or public halls with written permission from authorities
  • Designated spaces in places of worship

Kindergartens operating in multi-story buildings must comply with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government’s 2017 Guidelines for the Establishment of Kindergartens and Daycare Centers.

Regardless, the premise must receive final approval from your respective:

  • Local Authority
  • District Health Office, and
  • Fire and Rescue Department

Your premise will be also inspected by officers who will check for:

  • classrooms
  • student chairs and tables
  • reading areas
  • dedicated sick bay
  • food preparation room
  • bathroom / toilet
  • recreation / activity area
  • playground equipment, and
  • teaching aids / equipment

They will ask you to make changes if anything is amiss.

Naming conventions

In addition to being relevant to early childhood education, the Ministry of Education requires all kindergarten names to begin with the word ‘Tadika’.

While names in different languages are allowed, for the best chance of approval, your proposed name should:

  • be in Bahasa Melayu or English, and
  • contain Malaysian elements / references

If it makes sense to use a word from a different language, be sure to include an explanation for it.

The following words are prohibited and must be avoided:

  • names of living dignitaries, places, or streets
  • abbreviations
  • nonsensical names
  • well-known local and international education institutions
  • ‘yayasan’ / ‘foundation’
  • ‘politeknik’. / ‘polytechnic’

And yes, you can use your own personal name!

Required licenses

General licenses

These are licenses needed to run a business on a physical premise and are issued by your Local Authority (also known as Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan).

  • Premise license
  • Signboard license

Kindergarten-specific licenses

Kindergartens are classified as a Private Education Institution (PEI) under the Education Act 1996, which means it must register with the Ministry of Education.

An MOE certificate of registration as a kindergarten costs approximately RM150.00 and is valid for five years.

Step-by-step guide to opening a kindergarten

There may be slight differences based on state requirements so treat the following steps, timelines, and documents / fees as a general guideline. 

StepTime TakenNecessary Documents / Fees
1. MOE license application6 – 8 monthsSubmit Borang B to state or district Education Department, along with the following supporting documents:

1. Approval letters from Local Authority, Health Office, and Fire & Rescue Department

2. Registration forms and payment receipts for Principal, governors, and teacher

Fee:
RM5 for kindergarten
RM5 per staff member
RM2 per governor
RM20 per Teacher’s Permit 
2 Premise inspection by MOE officers14 – 30 working daysMOE officers check your premises for compliance with facility requirements.

They may make requests for further renovations to the premise
3. Apply for composite license (premise + signboard)15 – 30 working daysObtain from Local Authority where premise is located.

Fee: Differs by municipalities
4. MOE permanent license issuancen/aThe Certificate of Registration as a kindergarten is valid for five years.

It must be renewed at least three months before expiring.

There may be a further inspection before renewal to ensure the kindergarten is still up to standard.

In total, expect it to take about nine to ten months and up to several thousand Ringgit to set up your kindergarten.

Let MISHU help open your early childhood education business

Our experienced Company Secretaries and business license consultants are here to help you navigate statutory and permit requirements to set up your kindergarten as soon as possible. Speak to us today!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

please include country code

Scroll to top