By Karen Bong
KUCHING, March 7: Classroom or special education programmes will be implemented in schools for students with special needs, said Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
The federal government, he added, was concerned about access to education for children with special needs.
“The government is concerned about this issue as they noted the growing number of students with special needs in the country. The government is working hard to create classes in mainstream schools to serve their educational needs,” he said.
Beginning this year, the Ministry of Education (MoE) implemented the ‘Zero Reject Policy’ in which all children in the country, regardless of their background and social economic status, including those with special needs, would have access to quality education.
“As such, I am proud and delighted to be here today as the launching of this Living Skills (KH) Room is a step forward for us to provide a good facility with equipment and tools for our special needs children,” he said at a ceremony to hand over keys followed by the launching of the KH Room at SJK Bintawa here today.
The ‘Zero Reject Policy’, Dr Yii elaborated, was a measure in which the federal government aimed to create more beneficial programmes for special needs children.
“I was made to understand that the school registration procedure for kids with special needs is pretty stressful in the past, with many forms to be filled while some needed to go through interviews,” he said.
Dr Yii, however, emphasised that under the policy, the procedure had been simplified to ensure that special needs children would be able to receive quality education corresponding to their abilities.
“No child should be left behind. Educating and nurturing a child should not be limited to only teachers but all members of society, including parents, and parliamentarians play important roles in ensuring every child, including those with special needs, have access to education,” he highlighted.
He advised all parents not to be embarrassed or shy with enrolling their children with special needs in special needs programme in schools.
“Even though they may be a little different, but they too have big potential like us … not only to have the ability to be independent but also to contribute to the development of the country,” he said.
Dr Yii also urged for continued collaboration in the future to carry out more activities and programmes that would benefit the students as well as to take care of the well being of students, teachers and school staff.
The upgrading and equipping of the KH Room cost RM43,497. It was contributed by Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen.
Meanwhile, Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong, who was also present, said the KH Room could hold 37 special needs students in the school.
“With a bigger and better equipped room, they can learn living skills as well as cooking and sewing now,” she added.
Headmaster Wee Kim Kwang, Special Education Integrated Programme (PPKI) assistant head Aaron Chung, school PIBG vice-chairman Kueh Seng Kui, former Stampin MP Julian Tan, organising committee members and teachers were among those present. — DayakDaily
