PETALING JAYA: Malaysia should comply with the Persons with Disabilities (OKU) Act 2008 and Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) when drafting the Malaysia Higher Education Plan 2026-2035, say rights activists.
"We look with promise to this new plan because the 'Malaysian Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) is thus far a total failure for persons with disabilities.
"It would be good since we are signatories to the 2006 United Nations Convention on CRPD and OKU Act 2008 which says 'persons with disabilities shall not be excluded from the general education system on the basis of disabilities'," said the activists representing 21 organisations in a statement on Monday (July 22).
The group said the government should ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and the promotion of life-long learning opportunities for all which is also part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which Malaysia is committed to implementing by 2030.
A 2022 data showed only 792 persons with disabilities were enrolled in public universities, which was a mere 0.55% of the total 144,579 students enrolled for that year.
The group said in community colleges, it was 0.52% (34 out of 6,533 students) and for Polytechnics a dismal 0.20% (66 out of 31,967 students).
"Despite committing to CRPD and SDGs as well as OKU Act, 2008 we continue to have a dismal record on inclusive education for persons with disabilities.
"As such we appeal to Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir to give life to the Malaysia Higher Education Plan 2026-2035 by making it a landmark higher education strategy and then translate it into reality.
"With this, Malaysians could hope for real progress to proudly report on by 2030 (SDGs) and 2032 (4th Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023-2032)," it added.
