SPECIAL needs pupils at SK Taman Sri Sinar in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur, now have a purpose-built space to help support their sensory, emotional and physical development.
Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh said the facility was necessary as the number of pupils with special educational needs in Kuala Lumpur continued to rise.
She said data from the Federal Territories Kuala Lumpur Education Department showed that the number of special needs pupils had risen from 5,088 in 2021 to 8,136 this year.
Yeoh, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), said this was an increase of 3,048 pupils, or about 60%, over five years
“This shows that schools need sensory rooms and specialised equipment to help pupils with special educational needs,” she said after launching the space.
It is the first fully equipped Integrated Special Education Programme (PPKI) facility of its kind under the Sentul District Education Office, Yeoh added.
The school’s special education enrolment had risen from 55 pupils in 2024 to 67 last year and 76 this year.
It currently has six special education classes.
SK Taman Sri Sinar senior assistant for special education Rohayati Ahmad said the multisensory room provided space for learning and therapy activities aimed at sensory stimulation, concentration and emotional regulation as well as cognitive and physical development.
Equipment in the room includes swings, balance apparatus and a climbing wall, which can be used according to the needs of individual pupils.
Rohayati said some of the equipment could help pupils who were hyperactive, while other apparatus could be used to improve focus, balance and coordination.
When asked if the school would allow use of the space by other special needs students, Yeoh said SK Taman Sri Sinar had already prepared a timetable for its special education classes, but was open to allowing pupils from other schools to use the room at different times.
She said safety arrangements would have to be considered when pupils from other schools entered the premises.
The Segambut MP’s office allocated RM99,367 to SK Taman Sri Sinar this year for upgrading works.
Yeoh said about RM47,000 was used for the multisensory room and RM52,000 to repaint the school’s buildings.
Yeoh said MPs received RM3.7mil annually in constituency allocations that could be used for grants as well as infrastructure works.
She said RM1mil of her allocation was directed towards upgrading school facilities in 2024, while RM1.5mil was channelled to schools last year.
She added that priority was given to infrastructure because such improvements could benefit more pupils
Present at the launch were Sentul District Education Office Learning Sector deputy district education officer Asrina Ayu Chik and SK Taman Sri Sinar headmistress Kalsom Jab.
