YelaoShr's franchise leap marks new chapter in Malaysia's early childhood education

The Star

6 days ago

MALAYSIA'S education sector reached a meaningful turning point today as YelaoShr marked its transition into a licensed franchise brand through the onboarding of 66 new franchisees from across the country.
This significant development reflects the company's evolution from a homegrown early childhood education provider into a structured, scalable business model that empowers wider participation in early childhood education in Malaysia.
Officiated by the Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA) chairman Datuk Dr Radzali Hassan, the ceremony highlighted YelaoShr's readiness to grow through a nationwide franchise network.
With its framework now aligned under Malaysian franchise law, the brand is opening new pathways for aspiring edupreneurs to deliver high-quality, child-focused learning within their own communities.
This expansion effort is supported by a dynamic group of franchise partners comprising educators, parents, and first-time entrepreneurs, each committed to making personalised education more accessible.
Their involvement not only signals strong market confidence in YelaoShr's model but also lays the groundwork for sustainable grassroots growth driven by local ownership and standardised support.
Driving this next chapter are four core entities that anchor YelaoShr's ecosystem.
YelaoShr Education Group Sdn Bhd delivers language and communication programmes recognised by the Education Ministry; YelaoShr Education Academy Sdn Bhd leads teacher training and TVET initiatives; Sribhagawan Innovation Group Sdn Bhd develops proprietary education technologies; and ClassOne Elearning Education Sdn Bhd enables scalable, cross-border digital learning.
Together, these entities support YelaoShr's ambition to operate 300 learning centres nationwide by 2028 while setting its sight on regional expansion to countries like Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore.
Central to this growth strategy is the franchise model itself, a platform that blends educational purpose with entrepreneurial opportunity, enabling communities to take ownership of meaningful, high-quality learning experiences.
'Franchising, when done right, can unlock social impact at scale. When we franchise a good idea, we multiply its benefits, not just in profits, but in reach, accessibility, and opportunity,' remarked Radzali. 'And that is exactly what YelaoShr is doing today,' he added.
To commemorate the occasion, the EdTech outfit unveiled Finnish Education is What Malaysian Children Need the Most, a book that draws on the strengths of Finland's renowned education model and Malaysia's Madani Education Framework 2025–2035 to present a unified vision for child-centric learning.
It captures the essence of YelaoShr's approach, an ecosystem where educators, students, and families co-create learning environments that balance structure with imagination, and academic rigour with emotional intelligence.
'We're building an ecosystem where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive regardless of where they come from,' expressed co-founder Carol Yap Yee Yee.
Meanwhile, co-founder and chief executive officer, David Yap Wing Fai, said in his speech, that franchising is not just a business model, but a mission of empowerment.
'Our goal is to make it easier for more Malaysians, especially women, educators, and young professionals, to own and operate education centres with a proven system, with real support, and with meaningful impact.
"As YelaoShr embarks on nationwide expansion, we want to grow to 300 centres across Malaysia by 2028; not just for numbers, but to see 300 success stories of transformation.'
To ensure a strong talent pipeline supports this growth, YelaoShr signed a Memorandum of Understanding with HELP University.
The collaboration allows HELP students to undergo internships at YelaoShr centres and offers high-performing graduates a transition pathway into the brand's franchise development programme complete with mentorship, training, and startup support.
The partnership also includes annual sponsored awards to help outstanding graduates launch their own YelaoShr centres, reflecting the group's commitment to nurturing future edupreneurs from the ground up.
Founded by David and Carol, YelaoShr has grown from a modest home-based language enrichment programme into a national education platform with over 60 centres across Malaysia.
Anchored in principles of equitable access, sustainability, and innovation, the company's evolution has been driven by a clear mission: to bridge learning gaps, nurture potential, and create pathways for students regardless of their background.
With its initiatives aligned to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, YelaoShr has also embedded gender equality and inclusive education as core pillars of its work.
The ceremony concluded with a proud moment for the brand, as YelaoShr was honoured with two recognitions from the Asean Records.
The accolades acknowledged the company's achievement in producing the highest number of graduates from Malaysia's first trilingual one-on-one formative age personalised learning programme, as well as for sealing the most franchise memoranda of agreement in a single day by a Malaysian personalised education brand recognised by HundrED for global scalability.
To learn more visit yelaoshr.edu.my. To know about franchise opportunities with YelaoShr, log on to yelaoshr.edu.my/franchise.