Study Early Childhood Education in Malaysia

One of UNESCO’s sustainable development goals supports high-quality early childhood education as it is perceived as the key to the betterment of society.

Indeed, an effective education system will enhance the human capital of a nation.

If you love children and want to help them succeed, then this course is absolutely for you.

Read on to explore more about studying early childhood education in Malaysia.

1. What is Early Childhood Education?

Early Childhood Education is the education of infants, toddlers and young children.

A child’s brain develops rapidly within the first 5 years of life and this field of study focuses on the critical development milestones, skills and concepts that children attain during this period.

Children will develop linguistic, cognitive, social, emotional and regulatory skills that determine and shape the later years of their lives.

It is a branch of education theory that encompasses all forms of education in both formal and informal settings.

2. Why Should You Study This Course?

You Love Working with Children

Early Childhood Education is a perfect choice for those who have a love for children.

One of the top reasons people choose to pursue early childhood education is the personal reward and satisfaction that it brings.

It will give you a sense of accomplishment as you watch them develop their various social, motor, and cognitive and learning skills.

Understand the Early Learning Process

This is a unique opportunity to learn about the specific tools that help young children learn something that will benefit them in their future endeavours.

Students will also learn about children’s developmental milestones in order to help young children to reach their true potential.

Being an early childhood educator also means that you get to work in a more enjoyable environment, away from the typical 9 to 5 office jobs.

Bright Career Prospects

There is a constant need for early childhood educators all over the world.

These educators play such an important role in a child’s development but not everyone has the necessary skills to be one.

In addition to that, a degree in this field would also be the stepping stone to managing or owning a preschool.

3. What Do You Study In This Course?

Early Childhood Education offers a focus on both cognitive and social development which includes various activities that engage a student’s abilities to flourish.

Below are a few common subjects that are offered in this course in Malaysia:

Child Development

The objective of this module is to meet the physical, social, emotional and cognitive needs of children in their homes and classrooms.

Topics covered are teaching philosophies, understanding behaviours and common problems faced in the education of children at an early age.

Health, Safety and Nutrition

This subject talks about how to promote the health and well-being of children in your care and educate students about health, safety, and nutrition in order to provide quality care for children.

Infant and Toddler Care

You will learn the unique learning abilities of babies and toddlers and be trained on how to plan appropriate activities, how to use daily routines to bond with babies and how to provide cognitive stimulation through conversation, interaction and responsive relationships.

Language and Literacy

This involves the development of the skills used to communicate with others through languages, as well as the ability to read and write.

Learning through Play

Play-based approach for young children’s learning and development to develop social and cognitive skills, mature emotionally and gain the self-confidence required to engage in new experiences and environments.

4. What Are the Popular Pathways?

The table above shows the popular pathways that you may opt for.

You may study Foundation in Science or Arts for 1 year or a Pre-University (A-Level, SAM, STPM, etc.) course for 1 – 2 years after completing SPM or equivalent qualification of which you can then continue to do a Degree in Early Childhood Education for 3 years after completion.

Alternatively, you may also choose to pursue a Diploma in Early Childhood Education for 2.5 years, where you’ll be able to immediately enter the job market or resume studying for a degree in the same course.

So what would your pathway look like?

Diploma in Early Childhood Education

To qualify for a diploma course, you only need to have 3 credits in SPM/O-Level, including a pass in Bahasa Melayu and History and a credit in English.

Diploma courses usually take between 2 to 2.5 years to complete and the fees start from as low as RM 20,000.

You can enter the workforce immediately after graduation.

Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education

For degree courses, you will need to have 5 credits in SPM/O-Level qualification, including Bahasa Melayu and History, and the following pre-university course:

STPM: min. 2Cs
A-Level: min. 2Es
AUSMAT/SACE: min. ATAR 55
Relevant Foundation: min. CGPA of 2.00
Relevant Diploma: min. CGPA of 2.00

A pre-university course can take up to 2 years to complete and cost from RM 20,000.

Once you’ve completed your pre-university course, you can then move on to the degree course.

Degree courses take 3 years to complete and cost from RM 42,000.

Diploma students who want to continue their studies can do so with a degree course and they begin in Year 2.

Note that the costs and requirements for each university and course may vary.

For further assistance and enquiries, you can contact an advisor by using the Live Chat function.

5. What Are the Skills Required?

Spontaneity and Patience

Working with young children requires a lot of spontaneity and patience.

Young children do not behave exactly the way you want them to.

It is important for you to be calm and positive because the children mimic what they see and hear from their surroundings.

Things may not always go your way as inevitable events tend to occur and the young children can derail whatever you have planned.

Therefore it is vital to have the ability to adjust your plans and regulate your emotions whenever necessary.

Creativity

Most, if not all, early childhood educators tend to be hands-on in their teaching approach.

They tend to be comfortable using arts and crafts, games, storytelling, and even exercise as part of the teaching process.

Young children have rather short attention spans, so keeping them engaged is the top priority.

Planning

Though we mentioned being spontaneous earlier, it is just as important for the educator to prepare their teaching plan.

This enables you to keep track of their learning progress and address the gaps when necessary.

A teaching plan provides a systematic approach to learning for young children so that all areas of skills development are addressed.

Top Early Childhood Education Universities in Malaysia

HELP University & Colleges

HELP stands for Higher Education Learning Philosophy and is one of the top private universities in Malaysia at 351-400 in Asian University Rankings 2022.

Courses offered:

Foundation in Arts (Business, Education, Communication)
Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Bachelor in Early Childhood Education (Honours)

Taylor’s University

Ranked 284 on the QS World University Ranking 2023, Taylor’s University is one of the most respected and pioneering private higher education institutions in Malaysia since 1969.

Courses offered:

Foundation in Arts
Diploma in Early Childhood Education

SEGi University & Colleges

In 2020, SEGi University had shown an excellent performance for a first-time entrant as the university successfully ranked in the top 54% of the 2020 QS World University Ranking: Asia.

Courses offered:

Certificate in Early Childhood Care Education
Foundation in Arts
Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Bachelor of Early Years Education (3+0) with the University of Greenwich, UK

Things You Need to Know About Early Childhood Education Career

Dealing with the education of children in the early stages of life is a learning process that goes beyond the confines of a classroom.

Early childhood educators play an essential role to nurture young minds through the joys of learning and laying the right foundation for lifelong success.

Being an early childhood educator allows you to work closely with young children, nurturing their minds through the joys of learning and helping them realise their true potential along the way.

According to Payscale, early childhood educators can expect to earn an average annual pay of RM 19,000.

The minimum average basic monthly salary is RM 1,000 to a hefty amount of RM 49,000 depending on how long they have served in the teaching line.

For example, a quick browse on JobStreet shows the following jobs in the field for fresh graduates:

Early Childhood Teacher
Kindergarten Teacher
Preschool Teacher
Nursery Class Teacher
Teacher’s Assistant

Study Early Childhood Education in Malaysia

Table of Contents

1. What is Early Childhood Education?