Fatimah: Integrating children with disabilities with normal children improves their learning, while the latter learn how to care for others.
SCHOOLS in Sarawak have been told to implement integrated classrooms for children with special needs.
The Sarawak Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the move would allow children with special needs to receive formal education at the primary, secondary levels and beyond.
“We hope more schools will have integrated classrooms. We started with state-owned kindergartens because we have no control over the federal side.
“What we want at our own (state) level is integration, not separation,” she said after the opening of the National Autism Conference.
The state government, under the ministry, has established a One-Stop Early Intervention Centre (OSEIC) to provide facilities and services, especially early diagnosis, for children with autism.
“A total of 164 children have graduated from OSEIC since 2022. Some have gone to mainstream schools, and some have gone to special education.
“After they leave OSEIC, we want to ensure they can enter school because education is the right of every child, and we are pleased to see that they can attend school,” she added.
Fatimah also noted that previously, due to lack of opportunity for rehabilitation, many children missed out on formal schooling.
“The new policy ensures children with disabilities are not prevented from receiving an education. Now, we are starting to integrate children with disabilities with regular students.
“We all know that integrating disabled children with normal children improves their learning, but it also benefits normal children by teaching them how to assist. It is beneficial for both groups,” she said.
Fatimah added that they were currently establishing an OSEIC in Miri to cater to the needs of communities in Subis, Bekenu, Baram, Marudi, and other areas.
“We’re trying to reach out to rural areas, with OSEIC in Dalat as a starting point. As of June 30, 2024, OSEIC Sarawak has enrolled a total of 548 children, including 500 at OSEIC Kuching and 48 at OSEIC Dalat,” she said.
