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 https://yelaoshr.edu.my/franchise/

Parents can visit the website https://yelaoshr.edu.my/.