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Reasons for not registering may include a reluctance to navigate the many
layers in the application process. Also, instructions on what to do and what
forms to use are not all available or easily searched on the portals of the
various State Education Departments (Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri, in short,
JPN) and District Education Offices (Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah, in short,
PPD) -- the two MoE agencies that process applications to register a
private kindergarten.
Preschool education in Malaysia has seen rapid expansion during the past
decade, especially where kindergartens are concerned. According to the
Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, preschool enrollment of children
aged 4+ to 5+ had an impressive growth from 67% in 2009 to 77% in 2011,
while recently released Ministry of Education (MoE) figures showed
enrollment at 81.7% in 2013 and 84.6% in 2015. The government is now
targeting for 90% by this year and universal (100%) enrollment by 2020.
Let us first take a look at some of the basic requirements for setting up a
private kindergarten in Malaysia.
Business registration
You will also have to propose 3 suitable names for your kindergarten to the
JPN/PPD. The guidelines are: the name of the kindergarten must start with
Tadika, must be related to education or have a positive connotation, and
should be in Bahasa Malaysia (special approval will be required for names
in other languages). The name cannot contain the name of a State, town,
district, political party, foreign leader, or prominent individualstillliving, while
abbreviations are discouraged. After one of the names have been accepted
by JPN/PPD, you will then have to go to the Companies Commission of
Malaysia (CCM) to do a name search and booking.
The Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172) does not allow
kindergartens to be located in residential lots, however, local authorities
have given their approval on condition the kindergarten obtains letters of
consent from the current owners of neighbouring houses within a 20-metre
radius. If the kindergarten is located in a cul-de-sac (dead-end road), letters
of consent have to be obtained from neighbouring houses within a 200-
metre range. For terrace houses, only corner lots are allowed. However, an
intermediate lot next to a corner lot is allowed when both lots are occupied
by the same kindergarten. Premises must have an exit staircase or
emergency door.
- The dividing wall must be approved by the local authority, Fire & Rescue
Department, and Health Department. If the dividing wall is not approved
within the period stipulated in the temporary certificate of registration, the
registration of the kindergarten will be automatically revoked.
Curriculum
Where the curriculum is concerned, the kindergarten must use the National
Preschool Standard Curriculum or Kurikulum Standard Prasekolah
Kebangsaan (KSPK). Under the KSPK, pupils aged 5+ must have at least
4 hours per day, while pupils aged 4+ must have at least 3 hours per day,
of teaching and learning (including meal breaks), 5 days a week.
Fees
Registration fees, term fees, payments for meals and kindergarten uniforms,
and other fees charged will require approval from JPN/PPD. Fees paid
must commensurate with the facilities and services provided and
applications must be made for any fee increase. Fee increase is only
allowed once in 3 years and must not be more than 30%.
B) Application to the local authority, Fire & Rescue Department and Health
Department for approval of the location and premises
- the Private Education Unit (Unit Pendidikan Swasta) of the JPN in the
State where the kindergarten is to be located, or
- the PPD that oversees the district where the kindergarten is to be located.
If you are thinking which option is faster, it usually depends on how busy
the officer processing such applications is there is usually only one officer
doing this at the JPNs and PPDs. For example, if you are in districts such
as Petaling Utama and Petaling Perdana in Selangor, where relatively
more applications are received by the PPDs, you may wish to submit your
application to JPN Selangor. Once your kindergarten has been approved
and your certificate of registration received, you can still make a request for
your file to be transferred to the PPD concerned if you wish.
When submitting Borang BPS1 and Borang 5F, besides the details
pertaining to your business, Board members, principal and teachers, you
will also need to submit:
- Three proposed names according to the guidelines provided
- A working paper, which includes all the above details plus detailed
photographs (you can ask JPN/PPD for a sample to follow)
For the location plan and floor plan, check how many copies the officer
requires. The JPN in Kuala Lumpur needs 8 copies, while others need only
sufficient copies for themselves, the local authority, Fire & Rescue
Department, and Health Department. Note that your working paper is
supposed to look impressive. JPN Pulau Pinang even provided a sample
on their portal of how the cover page should look.
If all the documents are in order and your application is accepted, the
officer is supposed to make a site visit to your proposed kindergarten
(although not all do so).
After your application is received by the JPN/PPD, they will provide you
with letters addressed to the Local Authority, Fire & Rescue Department,
and Health Department requesting them to look into the other aspects of
your kindergarten under their jurisdiction. You will also have to do a name
search and booking at CCM for the kindergarten name that has been
accepted by JPN/PPD. It would speed up things if you deliver these letters
directly to the 3 departments. Note that it is your responsibility to obtain
their endorsement of your kindergarten. Their approval letters are required
by the JPN/PPD before your kindergarten can be registered.
C) Application to register a kindergarten
Once the JPN/PPD is satisfied with the information and documents you
have provided in (A) and with your location and premises, JPN/PPD will
provide you with Borang B Kaedah 5 (T) and its attachments to apply for
the registration of the kindergarten, while awaiting the approval letters from
the local authority, Fire & Rescue Department, and Health Department.
You will have to submit Borang B Kaedah 5 (T) together with a receipt for
RM7.00 (payment for processing fee and certificate of registration) and the
following:
- Maklumat Pengurusan (T) form with the details of your BoG members
- A copy of the approval letter from the Fire & Rescue Department
Conclusion
As can be seen from all the above, the setting up of a kindergarten is not
an easy task. One needs knowledge of the business, a safe location, the
right premises, and suitable and qualified people as board members,
principals, teachers, and workers to provide the best environment for the
pupils to be taught, to learn, to cultivate positive attitudes, to develop their
character, and to grow strong and healthy. The many layers in the approval
process are tedious and time-consuming but the regulations definitely help
to ensure the well-being and safety of our little ones.
We very much welcome kindergarten owners who have gone through the
registration process to share their experiences here. We have presented a
general picture as a preliminary guide to new-comers. If you have any
advice to give on the other details and processes, please do share with us
here