How to Start a Kindergarten in Malaysia
- Chow Ping
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
There are over 2,000 registered kindergartens in Selangor alone.
Kindergartens are a staple. Parents need childcare and are willing to invest in their children’s education.
The demand is there. The only question is whether you get a piece of it.
So, how to start a kindergarten in Malaysia?
First, know what you're actually opening
Before you do anything else, get this distinction right.
A kindergarten (tadika) serves children aged 4–6 and falls under the Ministry of Education (MOE), governed by the Education Act 1996.
A childcare centre (taska) serves children aged 0–4 and is regulated by the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) — an entirely different ministry, with an entirely different registration process.
This guide covers tadika only. If you're eyeing the younger crowd, that's a separate conversation.
Step 1: Register your business with SSM
Before any MOE paperwork can happen, your business entity needs to legally exist.
Register with SSM as either an Enterprise (sole proprietorship or partnership) or a Sdn Bhd (private limited company). Either structure works for a kindergarten. Unlike other private educational institutions, you're not restricted to one.
The minimum paid-up capital required is RM10,000.
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Step 2: Pick a name that gets approved
The Ministry of Education has strong opinions about kindergarten names.
Every kindergarten name must begin with the word "Tadika" — no exceptions. Beyond that:
Names in other languages are allowed, but you'll need to provide a justification and seek special approval. For the smoothest path, Bahasa Malaysia is the safer default
The name must relate to education or carry a positive meaning
It cannot contain the names of living public figures, states, towns, or districts
No abbreviations, no nonsensical combinations
No references to well-known local or international institutions
The good news: you can use your own name. Tadika Loh, for instance, is perfectly acceptable.
Propose three names to your PPD or JPN, ranked by preference. Once a name is approved, do a name search and reservation with SSM before moving on.
Step 3: Find and prepare your premises
Not every space qualifies as a kindergarten premise, and approval involves multiple government departments.
Commercial shoplots are the easiest to get approved. If you're going this route, you're starting from the right place.
Residential properties require a change-of-use permit from your local authority before they can be considered. This adds time and uncertainty to your timeline.
Regardless of property type, your premises must:
Provide a minimum of 3.5 m² of indoor space per child
Be located on the ground floor or first floor (in stratified buildings like condominiums, ground floor only — unless the ground floor is a car park)
Not be situated near industrial hazards, flood-prone areas, or high-tension electrical infrastructure
If you're planning to run both a tadika and a taska under one roof, it’s allowed — but they must be physically separated by a dividing wall and registered separately under their respective governing acts.
Your premises will need approval from three bodies: your local authority, the Fire &
Rescue Department (BOMBA), and the Health Department. Plan your renovation with all three in mind.
Step 4: Hire the right people
Staff qualifications under the Education Act are requirements.
Board of Governors
Every kindergarten must have a Board of Governors consisting of at least three members, all at least 18 years old. The Chairman must be a Malaysian citizen. Your principal serves as Secretary to the Board but cannot simultaneously be a Board member.
Principal
Your principal must be a Malaysian citizen, at least 25 years old, holding a Diploma in Early Childhood Education, a valid Teaching Permit, and at least three years of teaching experience. Police background check and health screening required.
Teachers
Each teacher must be a Malaysian citizen, at least 21 years old, holding an ECE diploma or equivalent, and a valid Teaching Permit. Police background check and health screening required.
The minimum teacher-to-student ratio is 1:25. Premium centres often run 1:15.
Step 5: Plan your curriculum
All registered kindergartens must follow Malaysia's national preschool curriculum.
The current standard is KSPK (Kurikulum Standard Prasekolah Kebangsaan). Beginning in 2026, this transitions to KP 2026, restructured around six learning areas: socio-emotional development, physical development and wellness, spiritual and values development, languages and literacy, cognitive development, and creativity and aesthetics.
KP 2026 places greater emphasis on play-based learning, character development, and hands-on activities. Less sitting, more doing.
If your medium of instruction isn't Bahasa Malaysia, BM must still be taught as a dedicated subject. You may supplement the national curriculum with Montessori, STEM, or bilingual programmes — but it is not optional.
Step 6: Get through the approvals
Submit your application to the District Education Office (PPD) or State Education Department (JPN). You'll need a floor plan, location map, curriculum, tenancy agreement, instrument of governance, and a working paper pulling everything together.
The JPN or PPD will then issue you letters addressed to the local authority, BOMBA, and the Health Department. Deliver these directly — don't wait for post. Their approval is your responsibility to chase, not theirs to volunteer.
BOMBA checks fire extinguishers, alarms, and emergency exits. The Health Department checks toilets, ventilation, and sanitation. Your local authority issues your business license, premise license, and signboard license.
Once all approvals are in, you'll submit your final registration application. A MOE officer will inspect your premises. If everything checks out, you receive your Certificate of Registration — valid for five years.
Total timeline: nine to ten months from first submission to certificate. Plan accordingly.
Step 7: Budget for it properly
Starting a kindergarten is not cheap. Here's a realistic picture:
Item | Estimated Cost |
Renovation & setup | RM80,000 – RM150,000 |
BOMBA & health compliance | RM10,000 – RM20,000 |
Furniture & learning materials | RM20,000 – RM50,000 |
Licenses, insurance & marketing | RM5,000 – RM10,000 |
Teacher salaries (monthly) | RM2,000 – RM3,500 per teacher |
Budget conservatively. Renovation costs have a habit of running over, and compliance requirements have a habit of adding up.
Step 8: Get parents through the door
You can have the most beautifully equipped tadika in the district. If parents don't know you exist, your seats stay empty.
Marketing is part of starting a kindergarten, full stop.
Start with Google. When parents look for a kindergarten, most of them type "tadika near me" and choose from whatever appears on that first page. Set up your Google Business Profile before you open. Upload real photos of your classrooms, your teachers, your outdoor space. Ask your first wave of parents to leave honest reviews. A kindergarten with 40 genuine reviews at 4.8 stars communicates something no paid advertisement can.
Use WhatsApp properly. In Malaysia, WhatsApp is where decisions happen. Respond to enquiries fast. Keep a broadcast list for interested parents who haven't enrolled yet. A warm monthly message ("We still have spots for January — would you like to come for a visit?") revives more conversations than you'd expect.
Host an open house before you're even full. Malaysian parents rarely commit without visiting first. They need to see how teachers interact with children, how the space feels, how safe it seems. A Saturday trial morning — where children join a sample class while parents observe — removes the uncertainty that delays decisions. Cultural celebration open days work well too, and signal something parents care about: that your community is inclusive.
Build word of mouth as a system. Ask any established kindergarten owner where their best enrolments come from — the answer is almost always referrals. Don't leave this to chance. Around week six to eight of a child's first term, when parents are settled and grateful, ask them directly if they know any families who might be looking. A simple incentive — a month's fee discount, a bookstore voucher — makes the ask easier for everyone.
The first time a parent walks in with their child, they are not inspecting your facilities. They are imagining their child here every morning. Make that imagination worth acting on.
One last thing
Starting a kindergarten is already a lot. You're scouting locations, hiring teachers, designing your classroom, planning your curriculum, and figuring out how to fill your seats — all at the same time.
The last thing you need is to also become an expert in SSM filings, MOE submissions, and statutory compliance. That's where we come in. Douglas Loh & Associates handles the business registration, company secretary, and compliance groundwork so the paperwork doesn't eat into the time and mental space you need for everything else.
Want to focus on building your kindergarten while we manage the boring paperwork for you?
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