Teo (back row, third right) seen with special-needs students at SJKC Bintawa during her visit to the school yesterday. Also seen are Dr Yii (back row, right), Yong (back row, second right) and Abang Mat Ali (front row, second left).
KUCHING: Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching wants more special-needs children in the country to be registered in special education programmes in government schools as her ministry is taking steps to train more teachers in special education.
Speaking to reporters during her visit to SJKC Bintawa here yesterday, she said currently only 14 per cent of special-needs children or 83,039 are believed to be registered in special education programmes as Special Needs Students (Murid Berkeperluan Khas – MBK) in government schools nationwide.
According to her, the percentage is low and she hopes the number will increase soon in line with the ministry’s ‘Zero Reject’ policy to ensure that no disabled children are left out from getting proper education.
“I believe that one of the reasons why the percentage is low is because some parents of special needs children do not want their children to be classified or labelled as MBK. All this is social stigma,” she added.
She said her ministry has allocated RM140 million as allowance for MBKs this year, with each registered student receiving RM150 a month.
She added that this year, 5,804 special-needs children have registered in government schools in Sarawak, up from 5,766 recorded last year. To meet the needs, Teo said her ministry will train more teachers in special education. By putting MBKs in mainstream classrooms, the government believes it is not only advantageous to the special-needs children in building up their confidence but would enable normal children to appreciate and learn to assist those with different abilities, she pointed out.
“In Sarawak, 147 are registered in the Sekolah Pendidikan Khas, while 4,432 are in the special education programme (PPKI) and 590 in the inclusive education programme (PPI) in schools throughout the state, where the special-needs children attend mainstream classes,” she said.
Currently, 123 primary schools and 52 secondary schools in Sarawak offer PPKI classes, she added.
Present during the press conference were Sarawak Education Department deputy director Abang Mat Ali Abang Masagus, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong and Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei.