By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 5: The construction of special education vocational secondary school (SMPKV) Padawan, Sarawak is expected to be completed by September this year.
In a TVS news report, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek stated that the project was approved under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) in 2019 and is one of two new Special Education Schools (SPK) currently under construction.
“The other is Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas (SMKPK) Bandar Enstek in Negeri Sembilan, which is expected to be completed by February 2026.
“These schools will add to the existing 35 Special Education Schools nationwide, which currently provide access to 3,086 students with special educational needs (MBPK),” she informed the Parliament today.
Fadhlina was responding to a question from Senator Isaiah Jacob, who asked about the government’s efforts to enhance special education and last year’s allocation for this sector.
In addition to building new SPKs, she said the Education Ministry (KPM) is expanding access to special education by constructing additional facilities for the Integrated Special Education Programme (PPKI) at 33 locations nationwide.
“To create a more inclusive learning environment, the government has allocated RM13.6 million for disability-friendly facilities in schools, including handrails, ramps, accessible toilets, and designated parking for persons with disabilities (PWD).
“So far, 33.7 per cent of schools—2,405 out of 7,147 that cater to MBPK students—have been equipped with these facilities,” she said.
Meanwhile, under Budget 2025, the federal government has approved the construction of 11 new PERMATA Negara Programme (PERMATA) centres, which will include dedicated learning spaces for children with autism.
“These initiatives reflect the ministry’s ongoing commitment to ensuring MBPK students receive quality, inclusive education that meets current needs,” she added. — DayakDaily
