Eduwis: Planting Seeds of Wisdom for a Sustainable, Holistic Future

With more than 90 centres nationwide, Eduwis Preschool stands as one of Malaysia's most established and visionary early childhood education providers. Since 1987, founder Amanda Tan has nurtured a legacy of education that transcends academic excellence — cultivating wisdom, character, creativity, and a deep respect for the environment. At Eduwis, learning is hands-on, heartfelt, and holistic, rooted in eight renowned global education philosophies. Through sustainability practices, robust teacher training, inclusive community engagement, and a curriculum featuring over 1,600 hands-on activities, Eduwis continues to shape the future of early education in Malaysia.

We sat down with Amanda Tan to learn more about the Eduwis story, vision, and what makes this preschool franchise truly one of a kind.

1. What is the meaning behind the name "Eduwis" and your tagline "Education Towards Wisdom"?

Amanda Tan: The name Eduwis combines "EDUcation" and "WISdom," which reflects our belief that education should not only impart knowledge but also nurture good values, character, and judgement. We want to raise wise, compassionate children — not just academically strong ones. Our tagline, "Education Towards Wisdom," guides our entire philosophy. It applies to everyone in our ecosystem, including teachers. I’m still pursuing my PhD in education to demonstrate that learning is a lifelong process.

2. Eduwis is known for integrating eight educational philosophies. How do you implement this in your daily teaching?

Amanda Tan: Our curriculum is built on eight respected educational philosophies: Erikson, Froebel, Malaguzzi, Montessori, Piaget, Suzuki, Vygotsky, and Confucius. Each one offers unique contributions to how children grow. Each philosophy brings something unique. For example, Montessori promotes independence, Erikson focuses on emotional development, while Confucius reminds us of moral grounding. By combining these eight philosophies, we’re able to nurture children in all areas — intellectually, emotionally, socially, and morally. It’s not about memorising facts, it’s about developing a love for learning and growing into a wise, kind human being. As a result, we’ve developed over 1,600 thematic, hands-on activities yearly to engage children in all areas of learning that integrates these philosophies practically.

3. How do the 1,600+ hands-on activities support this?

Amanda Tan: Our 1,600+ hands-on activities are designed to touch every aspect of development — language, math, science, motor skills, emotional intelligence, and social interaction. Children engage in small-group sessions, creative play, role play, music, movement, and project-based learning. Every child performs in our concerts and puppet shows, building confidence over time. We also include modern skills like robotics and digital literacy. Learning at Eduwis isn’t confined to worksheets — it’s active, joyful, and lifelong. We’re preparing kids for school and life.

4. What is a typical day like for a child at Eduwis?

Amanda Tan: Our day starts with teaching children to manage their own belongings — independence is key. Then, they go through individual sessions like piano and English reading, followed by robotics class once a week. We have free playtime, then six short thematic learning classes packed with fun and hands-on activities. After snack time, it’s more structured lessons, followed by a communal lunch. In the afternoon, children enjoy enrichment activities like drama, music, or puppet-making, and we always prioritise play, both structured and unstructured. Our full-day programme is very fulfilling and balanced.

5. Sustainability seems to be deeply embedded in Eduwis. Can you share more about this commitment?

Amanda Tan: We take sustainability seriously — not just in words, but in daily practice. children tend to vegetable gardens, harvest what they grow, and even help prepare meals using their produce. We practice composting, use rainwater for gardening, and encourage recycling and upcycling. For example, children create art and puppets using egg cartons and old boxes. We teach the 4Rs — reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle — through real-world activities. Our long-term goal is for every Eduwis centre to be a certified ecosystem preschool, modeling environmental responsibility for the next generation.

6. What training do you provide your educators?

Amanda Tan: We hold monthly training sessions, both in-person and online, for all 400+ teachers nationwide. They’re immersive, hands-on sessions that explore theory, pedagogy, and practical skills. For example, if we feel Reggio Emilia is not being applied effectively, we dedicate a full day to that approach. Our teachers also make their own teaching aids from recycled materials, promoting creativity and sustainability. Our educators are constantly learning, just like the children they teach.

7. How does Eduwis foster diversity and inclusivity in its classrooms?

Amanda Tan: Diversity is part of our everyday environment. We hire teachers of different races to help children experience multiple languages and cultures. During festivals like Hari Raya and Deepavali, we celebrate together with parties and activities like wearing traditional clothes, understanding rituals, and appreciating music and food. Parents often contribute by lending costumes or decorating the space. It’s a community effort. We also take in children with mild special needs, working closely with therapists and providing them a nurturing mainstream environment.

8. How does your franchise system maintain Eduwis’ core values and quality?

Amanda Tan: Every franchisee undergoes comprehensive onboarding and ongoing support from our HQ. We provide a full suite of tools from curriculum guides and teacher training to operational manuals and marketing. Our quality assurance team regularly audits every centre. Therefore, the Eduwis name stands for quality, so we make sure every branch embodies our philosophy and standard of care.

9. What are your thoughts on the current early childhood education industry in Malaysia?

Amanda Tan: ECE in Malaysia has improved — many institutions now offer ECE diplomas. But quality is inconsistent. Some graduates still lack practical skills. That’s why Eduwis continues to invest heavily in monthly training, which is rare even globally. We also face challenges with parental expectations as many still prioritise academics over emotional and social development. Our job is to constantly educate parents on why the early years matter for this is the foundation for lifelong learning, character, and success

10. What are your hopes and plans for Eduwis moving forward?

Amanda Tan: We want to grow wisely. We’re currently in 10 states and aim to expand to areas like Perlis, Kelantan, and Terengganu where high-quality ECE is still limited. We also want to certify Eduwis as a fully sustainable early childhood ecosystem school. That means using rainwater for gardening, making natural fertilisers, and continuing our 4Rs programme. My hope is for Eduwis to be a global role model — a preschool brand that does more than educating; transforming lives, communities, and the environment for the better.

For more about Eduwis or to find a centre near you, visit https://eduwis.edu.my.