First full-fledged rehab school opens

No one left behind: The new Puspen school in Karangan, Kedah.

KARANGAN: The country’s first school dedicated to addressing learning loss among young drug users has opened its doors in Kedah.

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) courses were introduced at the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) learning facility this month.

Welding, aircond repair and sewing modules by the National Youth Advance Skills Training Institute (IKTBN) and GiatMARA Nibong Tebal, are now being taught alongside formal classes at the school located in AADK’s Narcotic Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen) Karangan.

The school, which opened in December last year, offers structured learning of six Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) core subjects, namely Bahasa Melayu, English Language, Science, Mathematics, History and Islamic Studies or Moral Education.

Zuraidah says approval was given to build the double-storey school block, complete with four classrooms, a computer lab and library, in 2021.

A total of 75 drug users are currently undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at Puspen Karangan, which can accommodate up to 300 clients, said its director Zuraidah Ayob.

Twenty-two are aged between 15 and 21. In addition, 17 will be sitting for the SPM this year under the guidance of four dedicated teachers, she said.

“We have 30 rehabilitation centres nationwide but this is AADK’s first and only full-fledged school.

“Approval was given to build the double-storey school block complete with four classrooms, a computer lab and library in 2021.

“The school officially opened five months ago,” she said.

Prior to the setting up of the school, youths under AADK’s Client Education Access Pro­gramme (PAPK) were given the opportunity to study at selected centres.

Introduced in 2015 to address learning loss, PAPK allows adolescents aged 18 and below to follow a structured learning timetable under the tutelage of teachers appointed under the Malaysia Short-Term Employment Pro­gramme.

On April 24, AADK director-­general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said 25 SPM candidates who prepared for the exams under the PAPK programme sat for the 2024 exams at Puspen Seri Iskandar, Perak, and Papar, Sabah, had qualified for a certificate, having passed all the subjects they sat for.