Despite recruitment drives for the early childhood education (ECE) sector and steps to make the profession more attractive, it is still hard to recruit and retain pre-school teachers. Additionally, the disruption brought about by the pandemic has placed Malaysia as one of the countries with a high turnover rate of 40% in the ECE industry.

Recognising the root of the problem in the education ecosystem as a whole, Malaysian education group YelaoShr aims to address the existing market gap of low pay, long working hours and unstable professional growth through YelaoShr Education College (YEC). With that in mind, YEC is on a mission to increase the talent pool and provide women with progressive career growth in the ECE industry through their certified technical and vocational education and training programme approved by the National Technology Development Authority of Malaysia (Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran) and Co-operative Societies Commission of Malaysia (SKM).

With a track record of 50 graduates, YEC moulds trainee teachers to be future-proof educators with innovative teaching methods and experiential training sessions. With their certified training programmes, YEC ensures trainee teachers receive proper education and training to cultivate talents in the education sector.

In light of their efforts to increase the participation of women in the ECE industry, YEC is opening scholarships worth up to RM1,750,000 for all female Malaysians. Upon passing the interview stage, 50 applicants will receive a full tuition scholarship of RM35,000 each to provide an affordable and equal opportunity for all women toward a brighter and more prosperous future. This is extended to talented young females from B40 families, females who have completed their SPM, STPM, UEC, working women and more.

By empowering more women to explore the ECE industry, YEC aims to also bridge the already beset issue of Malaysian women showing a low workforce participation rate of just only 54% to our overall economic growth. This will allow them to have equal access to reasonable incomes and growth in the working field while also increasing the teacher-to-student ratio in the sector.

“As we progress forward as a nation, there is still a lack of awareness and talent deficiency surrounding the ECE industry. YEC addresses this scarcity by empowering women from diverse backgrounds, be it unemployed graduates, mothers or even working adults to explore and grow in the ECE industry in Malaysia. This will help us build the industry and to bridge the talent shortage in this ECE sector,” said David Yap, Founder and CEO of YelaoShr Education College.

Breaking through conventional educational structures, YEC’s technical diploma focuses on shaping future female educators for the ECE industry with their 20% formal education which will help them understand the industry and the remaining 80% leaning more towards practical courses with the group’s subsidiary company, YelaoShr education centres.

“At our education centres, these trainee teachers will be able to gain hands-on experience to understand different children and their capabilities with our unique teaching methods before they start a career as certified graduates. It provides adequate training to these trainee teachers to be able to match the growing needs of students and parents in the classroom and beyond,” said David.

Under the guidance of over 400 certified and trained professionals from YelaoShr education centre, trainee teachers will not be spending hours in classrooms and listening to lectures; instead, they will receive comprehensive education and training by attending over 60 assigned YelaoShr centres to study on-site problem-solving with children, whilst starting an internship at the same time to ensure that trainee teachers understand and hone their potential. Once they graduate, these fresh educators will then be provided the option to join YelaoShr centres to start their career in the education industry.

Besides that, graduates will also have the knowledge and skills to found their own centres and thereby start their own businesses. With their diploma issued by YEC’s partner college from the Warnborough College UK, trainee teachers will also be able to connect with international institutions of higher learning to further specialise in preschool education in the future, should they wish to continue their studies.

“Through these efforts, YEC is looking to assist and encourage talents in technical and vocational education and training, helping them to reach their full potential and empowering them to actively progress in their careers with a stable income and necessary skills to to start their own businesses. We look forward to shaping a new generation of leaders who will forge a better future for themselves, our community, and the country through this initiative,” said David.

Scholarship applications can be made online at https://yec.edu.my/ and will close on 23 January 2023.