Education Expert Calls For Standardisation Of Preschool Curriculum

KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 (Bernama) -- The preschool curriculum in all government and private kindergartens should be standardised to ensure equitable quality in early childhood education.

Education expert Prof Datin Dr Mariani Md Nor, who is also the acting vice-chancellor of SEGi University, said the proposal was among seven resolutions she presented at the Bumiputera Education Congress 2026 held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) today.

She said currently, there are various categories of preschools, such as KEMAS, Perpaduan and private kindergartens, which adopt different curricula, despite comprehensive discussions having been conducted during the development of the national preschool curriculum.

“Why not standardise the curriculum and eliminate the ‘caste’ in preschool education?” she said when speaking as a panellist in Session 3: Empowering Preschool Education.

Mariani also suggested that the government elevate the status of preschool teachers as a formal profession, comparable to education systems abroad, where the career is highly regarded, with qualifications extending to the doctoral level.

Other resolutions proposed by Mariani include continuous monitoring of teachers’ competencies and strengthening parental support systems, especially for children requiring special attention.

“Therefore, there is a need to enhance early intervention systems so that these children can be identified at an early stage, enabling us to guide them in the same way as other children,” she said.

She also proposed the implementation of integrated education through the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) approach, utilising information technology while emphasising an inclusive and high-quality learning environment.

-- BERNAMA