Bernama reported Fadhlina as saying the ministry aims to enhance early childhood education with a bilingual model while integrating other educational strategies.

This will apply to preschools under the ministry, the community development department (Kemas), the national unity and integration department as well as private institutions that use the national curriculum.

The minister also said the new curriculum would focus on developing the character of children.

With preschool teachers crucial to ensure the new curriculum’s success, Fadhlina said her ministry would prioritise ensuring the competency of teachers.

She said the ministry also plans to raise the minimum qualification for preschool teachers to a degree. Currently, diploma holders are eligible to teach in preschools.