Latest news with #YelaoShr
The Star
7 days ago
- Business
- The Star
YelaoShr's franchise leap marks new chapter in Malaysia's early childhood education
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 To know about franchise opportunities with YelaoShr, log on to
Barnama
24-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
YelaoShr Becomes Licensed Franchise, Eyes 300 Centres Nationwide By 2028
BUSINESS Malaysian Franchise Association Chairman, Datuk Dr Radzali Hassan (middle), Chief Executive Officer and Co Founder Yelaoshr Education Group Sdn Bhd, Dr David Yap Wing Fai and Co Founder of Yelaoshr Education Group Sdn Bhd, Dr Carol Yap Yee Yee pose for a photo with 66 Yelaoshr franchisees during the Yelaoshr Franchise Signing Ceremony and book launch held today. Malaysian Franchise Association Chairman, Datuk Dr Radzali Hassan (second,right) witnessing the signing MoU ceremony between Chief Executive Office and Co Founder Yelaoshr Education Group Sdn Bhd, Dr David Yap Wing Fai and Vice Chancellor of HELP University Professor Dr Andy Liew (middle) during the Yelaoshr Franchise Signing Ceremony and book launching today. PETALING JAYA, July 23 (Bernama) -- Education provider YelaoShr Education Group Sdn Bhd has officially transitioned into a licensed franchise under the name YelaoShr, with plans to expand its network to 300 centres across the country by 2028. The announcement was made at a franchise signing ceremony here today, during which the company introduced 66 new franchisees under its expansion programme. YelaoShr co-founder and chief executive officer David Yap Wing Fai said the franchise model is designed to support educators and young professionals in opening and operating centres using a standardised system. 'What began as a single classroom has now become a network with over 60 centres, thousands of educators and tens of thousands of children who have discovered the joy of learning through our trilingual one-on-one model,' he said in his speech. He emphasised that the company's goal is not merely to expand in numbers, but to empower individuals, particularly women and young professionals, to build sustainable education businesses with structured support. 'Our goal is not just to open 300 centres, but to see 300 success stories of transformation,' he said. YelaoShr has reportedly reached over 120,000 students nationwide through its personalised trilingual education model, which focuses on one-on-one learning in Mandarin, English and Bahasa Malaysia. Founded in 2005, the company is currently in the pre-initial public offering stage and aims to be listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia within the next two years. Meanwhile, Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA) chairman Datuk Dr Radzali Hassan said YelaoShr's certification reflects the ongoing development of the franchise industry in Malaysia.
The Star
20-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
EDUPRENEURS IN THE MAKING
Two generations, one purpose: (left) David and his son, Samuel, are turning a family mission into a nationwide education movement. — Photos by KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star FOR founders David Yap Wing Fai and his wife Carol Yap Yee Yee, the real story has been about creating a nurturing environment where both children and educators can thrive. 'Back in 2005, I saw too many children slipping through the cracks of one-size-fits-all tuition classes,' recalled Carol. That early drive to do better for children has since grown into an education movement: a network of YelaoShr learning centres, a teacher training college (YelaoShr Education College) and a digital platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI). At its core is a shared belief that great teachers change lives – and with the right support, they can transform the industry too. 'Education is not just about preparing kids for exams. It's about building confident, thoughtful individuals who can think critically and solve real-world problems,' said Yap. From educator to edupreneur YelaoShr's growth is closely tied to its 'From Educator to Edupreneur' initiative, which helps passionate teachers build long-term careers beyond the classroom. Yap sees franchise partners as collaborators in a shared mission, rather than investors. 'Many of our best-performing centres are led by women who started with us as teachers. They didn't come in with capital but with heart,' he said. 'When parents see that, they trust it. And over time, success follows.' The goal is to grow from 60 centres to 300 across Malaysia and the region, while empowering more teachers, especially women, to lead the way. YelaoShr prioritises personalised learning to help every child progress at their own pace. A tech-enabled promise Long before edtech (education technology) became a buzzword, YelaoShr had already built internal systems to manage operations, track learning outcomes and support teacher development. With AI integration, the group is now taking things a step further. This is reflected in YelaoShr's Progress Guaranteed programme, which provides parents with assurance that learning goals will be met, without incurring extra fees if more time is needed. If a student takes longer than expected to complete a level, YelaoShr's internal system flags it, triggering additional learning support, such as a month or two of extended lessons at no extra cost. The company is also using AI and big data to strengthen its model. Digital systems now allow real-time tracking of teacher performance, centre outcomes and student learning trends. In development are an AI-powered learning chatbot and a series of colourful digital textbooks aimed at making learning more engaging and accessible. Second-generation legacy This legacy is already being passed on. Earlier this year, the couple's son, Samuel, joined the business full-time after completing his college studies, rotating across departments to learn the ropes. While he started in marketing, he soon found himself drawn to the teacher training department, helping with session prep and supporting educators in the classroom. 'I think what gravitated me towards teacher training is that I like interacting with teachers and I love seeing them receive new information on how to better help children,' Samuel shared. YelaoShr is now preparing for its next milestone: a pre-IPO announcement event on July 23 at One World Hotel, Petaling Jaya. The event will mark the beginning of the group's next phase of expansion and innovation. The day's programme includes the unveiling of a new book inspired by Finnish education –showcasing how YelaoShr's personalised, progressive model blends international best practices with local needs – as well as a franchise licence handover and franchisee signing ceremony. Two Asean Records attempts are also planned, in line with YelaoShr's ambitions to expand regionally. In the afternoon, a dedicated franchise opportunity briefing will provide potential franchisees with a preview of how they can partner with YelaoShr to build a sustainable education business. 'Rising start-up costs are a challenge, but through the IPO, we aim to establish a fund to empower more teachers to run their own centres,' said Yap. Find out more information on franchise opportunities at Parents can visit the website
