More emphasis on special needs students’ education

KUALA LUMPUR: About 1,000 classes will be opened this year for special needs students.

This initiative falls under the Special Needs Integration Programme (PPKI), which aims to make it easier for these students to attend school.The move to make education more accessible would benefit 7,591 students, said Dr Maszlee Malik during a visit to SMK Seri Keramat’s PPKI class on the first day of school yesterday.

A total of RM54mil has been allocated for 421 new PPKI schools.

“We have also allocated RM16mil for the maintenance of 320 schools, ” Maszlee said, adding that enrolment had also increased in view of the development of infrastructure for special needs students.

Last year, there was an increase of 4,821 students registering for schools offering special education compared to 2018.

The increase from 83,598 to 88,419 was the result of the ministry’s “zero reject” policy, which requires all schools to accept special needs students and prepare an individual education plan for every child.“Providing accessible education for every child is our priority.

“Rest assured that disabled and special needs children will never be neglected, ” Maszlee said.

There are currently 2,418 PPKI schools nationwide offering special education from the preschool level to the secondary level.

Maszlee, who also visited SK Setiawangsa, said he was happy with the enthusiasm shown by the schools and teachers, adding: “The children are the country’s future. Always encourage them to read.”

In Kajang, Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said the ministry planned to recruit more interim teachers for special needs education in schools.

“It is still in progress, we cannot confirm when the applications will start, ” she said.

Yesterday, Teo visited SMK Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah and SK Bangi, where she inspected PPKI classes.

“As of last year, 2,418 schools offer PPKI classes and RM34mil was allocated to help 840 schools to upgrade their infrastructure and classrooms.

“We need to provide more skills training for secondary school special needs students so that they can support themselves in the future, ” she said.