Vocational institute for OKUs proposed in 11MP — Fatimah

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Fatimah joins the special athletes in a fun-filled activity.

Fatimah joins the special athletes in a fun-filled activity.

SIBU: A proposal has been made under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) for the federal government to establish a vocational institute in Sarawak for students with special needs.

Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah disclosed this at a press conference after officiating at the Special Olympics Healthy Project – Family Health Forum at Agape centre here yesterday.

She pointed out that such an institute was already available in the peninsula but not Sarawak and Sabah.

“It is a challenge for parents to send their children to Peninsula to acquire skills.

“We have vocational schools already in Sarawak for normal students. Therefore, it is high time we also have a vocational school for the disabled children. Otherwise, we will be left behind.

“We are asking the federal government to establish one in the state to cater for Sarawak and Sabah,” Fatimah, who is president of Special Olympics Sarawak, said.

Asked on the proposed location, she said it has not been decided.

On the age of special needs children for the proposed institute, she said it was flexible.

She noted that the Agape Centre here provided training for children with special needs.

“This is among the things that we emphasise on, to train our OKUs (special needs people) so that they have skills to earn a living.

“Skills are most important for self esteem. For any individual without a job, their self esteem will be affected, including their lives.”

On another subject, she said while there are by-laws for buildings, they could be made more friendly to include provisions for the easy movement of OKUs.

“This is important for them to go about doing their routine.”

Without disabled-friendly facilities, OKUs may prefer to stay at home, she added

“There is still a long way to go. We have to look at a holistic approach – building by-laws and other aspects such as physical and social.

“This is important to promote integration and inclusiveness so that there is no discrimination on OKUs in the society.

“Progress had been made but more needs to be done,” Fatimah noted.