KINDERGARTEN and nursery school fees across the country are expected to rise between 20 and 25 per cent next year, following the increase in the minimum wage to RM1,700 per month with effect from February 1, reported Berita Harian.
The Islamic Kindergarten Association of Malaysia (Pertim) and the Johor Education Institution Educators Association, which represent kindergarten operators, as well as the Malaysia Association of Registered Early Childhood and Development Educators, which represents nursery operators confirmed the increase in fees due to increasing operating costs.
Pertim's honorary advisor, Zaharah Awang, said about 1,000 of its members across the country are preparing to raise their fees.
She said this is not only due to the rise in salaries for workers, and teachers, but also rising costs of raw materials for food, teaching aid, rent and utility bills.
However, she said, the increase needs to be approved through an application made to the State Education Department (JPN) or the District Education Office (PPD), before being implemented.
"Pertim made an initial projection of a gradual increase in the minimum wage to RM2,000 a month in stages over the next few years, but our members did not expect the enforcement of the new minimum wage of RM1,700 to happen as early as next year.
"Next year's fee notices have been given to parents, but with the announcement of the implementation of a minimum wage of RM1,700 per month starting next February, Pertim members are forced to issue a new fee notice involving an increase of up to 25 per cent, depending on the location of the kindergarten.
As many as 1,000 of our members who are also kindergarten operators across the country are actually stuck because they do not want to raise fees, but are forced to do so for the sake of kindergarten operations.
She said without parents' support in the matter, there is a risk of a kindergarten closing.
"One hundred per cent of a private kindergarten's operational costs depend on the fees paid by parents. Operational costs for kindergartens have increased since the end of the Movement Control Order. And costs are much more since last year due to rising prices of goods and living costs," she told BH.
During the tabling of the 2025 Budget on Friday, the government said it will increase the minimum wage rate to RM1,700 per month from the current RM1,500, effective Feb 1 next year.
However, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had also announced a six-month deferment of the RM1,700 minimum wage enforcement for employers with fewer than five employees, effective Aug 1, 2025.
Zaharah said the price of raw materials for food provided to children under the care of kindergartens has risen by more than 60 per cent since last year and this increased operational costs.
She said the fee increases of between 10 and 25 per cent are merely to help operators sustain their businesses.
"There have been cases where 41 students were withdrawn from one of our member kindergartens by their parents due to a fee increase of less than RM40 per month."
She said monthly fees for private kindergartens for Malay or Muslim students range between RM300 to RM350 as compared to non-Muslim private kindergartens, which charge between RM750 to RM900 per month.
Meanwhile, Johor Education Institution Educators Association chairman Hazman Sapawi said 500 kindergartens in the state are expected to raise fees in line with the minimum wage increase.
"For example, adjusting kindergarten staff salaries, especially teachers will involve additional costs of RM229.90 per person per month. - October 21, 2024
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