‘Inclusive education for all children’

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Mahdzir (fifth left) presents a memento to one of the partners and co-organisers of the 2nd ICSE. Also seen are Dr Sim (fourth right), Manyin (fifth right), Yasmin (fourth left) and Rakayah (left). — Photos by Muhd Rais Sanusi

Participants consisting of educators and field experts from around the world at the conference.

KUCHING: The education of children with disabilities must be geared towards providing them with skills and knowledge that will empower them to lead independent lives and able to contribute to the communities.

Minister of Education Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid assured yesterday that Malaysia is very committed to provide an inclusive education for all children regardless of their abilities.

There are a total of 78,310 students with special needs in Malaysia whereby 2,320 of them are in special schools while 60,873 are undergoing Special Education Integration Programme and 15,117 in the Special Education Inclusive Programme.

“It is both a vision and work in progress in Malaysia to ensure education delivery for children with disabilities is given utmost care and consideration,” he said at the closing ceremony of the 2nd International Conference on Special Education (ICSE 2017) at  Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here.

The three-day conference was attended by more than 650 participants consisting educators, administrators and field experts from Asean countries and around the world.

The education agenda today, Mahdzir added, was full of challenges that must be handled with effective strategies and methods so that it can be realistically implemented.

Every country, he said, has its very own programme, agenda as well as planning and implementation for special education.

As such, he said the conference was an important platform for discussions and knowledge-sharing by the participants to develop new ideas and practices that could be adapted for children with disabilities.

“The Malaysian Education Blue Print 2013-2025 has addressed five systems of aspirations for Malaysian Education System that are compounded on access, quality, equity, unity and efficiency.

“These aspirations must be translated into actions and strategies that require a shift in actions, policies and implementations of our education system,” he added.

He reiterated that education for children with disabilities must be given emphasis and must be supported by the building of knowledge, skills and professionalism for Special Education teachers.

The 2nd ICSE, SEAMEO Regional Centre for Special Education director Dr Yasmin Hussain, meanwhile, said that inclusive education was the key to growth, respect and acceptance of diversity and differing abilities of all children.

“Secondly, stakeholders must ensure that education access and engagement of children with disabilities are prioritised and implemented for the betterment of the lives of children with disabilities.

“Thirdly, parental advocacy and community awareness efforts must be intensified to reduce discrimination and prejudices to pave ways and positive acceptance of persons with disabilities in the society,” she said.

The fourth focus, Yasmin said was that technical education and training, innovations and ICT applications were important means for empowering the lives of people with disabilities and these means must be made available for them.

The fifth focus is to enhance the awareness of disability at all levels of societies which is also an integral part of knowledge-building and understanding.

Yasmin said stakeholders of the 2nd ICSE were determined to realise these resolutions within their abilities, power and efforts for the enhancement of the lives of people with disabilities.

Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin, its permanent secretary Datu Sudarsono Osman, Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, state Education director Rakayah Madon, Education Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof and SEAMEO Secretariat director-general Prasert Tepanart were also present at the function.