Monograph

All children have the right to a safe and nurturing environment that promotes the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development. Many countries are also increasingly aware of the opportunities and outcomes accorded by early childhood care and education. Policies adopted by the government should make a significant difference to the way practitioners work, which will have a considerable impact on the outcomes of policy implementation. The Malaysian government has instituted national policies, procedures and regulations that govern the establishment and growth of the early childhood care and education services. This paper reports on a research study to examine the impact of the existing early childhood care and education (ECCE) policies on the quality of ECCE in Malaysia. As partof a larger research project, this study employs a convergent parallel design where quantitative and qualitative data are collected over 48 months from January 2016 to December 2019. Data were analysed concurrently and independently first before consolidating it. This allows the research team to better understand the issues at hand and make relevant and valid suggestion to the government of Malaysia for the development of a quality ECCE. The quantitative component of this study was conducted through questionnaire. The data was analysed using statistical software SPSS. The qualitative component of this study is done through in-depth interview, individual and focus group discussion. 48 participants were involved consisting government official and leaders of non- government agencies related to early childhood care and education in Malaysia. A team of researchers conducted individual interviews and focus group interviews for the participants who consented to the research study. Data collected were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis method involving three cycles of rigorous analytic coding and review processes. The findings of this study indicated the participants who are policy makers or leaders of non-government agencies are aware of the policies they are in direct dealing and fully understand the importance of the policies and expressed their support of these policies. The challenges for quality ECCE in Malaysia is also related to governance and issues in implementation and operations point to the urgent need for an integrated and comprehensive framework of ECCE in Malaysia.