The Malaysian Preschool Syllabus: An Analysis on Reading Component

This paper discusses the Malaysian Preschool Curriculum with regard to its Reading Skill Component. This particular syllabus is chosen because of its vital significance and effect on the Malaysian students’ early literacy. Among the areas covered are the backgrounds of the curriculum, its strengths and limitations, as well as the missing elements. Apart from that, the writer’s personal experience in applying the syllabus during her involvement in conducting field research in a private preschool; and her observation towards its implementation in other privately-run centres are discussed. Finally, this paper discusses the author’s view that is; the limitations in the syllabus outnumbered its positive aspects, leading to failure in preschool reading skill with regards to the centres which have no supplementary syllabus. Some recommendations on improving the syllabus are provided to overcome these limitations.