KUCHING, April 19: Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen has pledged to convey the needs of SK Laksamana to Deputy Minister of Education Lim Hui Ying, as it requires the adequate resources and teachers to provide the Special Integration Education Programme (PPKI) for children with special needs.
Recognising the school’s commitment to provide the best education to special needs children who are autistic, slow learners and dyslexic, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman said that it is important to provide the school with sufficient teaching staff and facilities.
“Teaching children with autism and down syndrome is not an easy job. But we must try our best to give them as best as possible the fundamentals that they need for their future.
“We will try our best to help upgrade the facilities of the school so as to provide a good learning environment for the kids,” he said when addressing the closing ceremony of the week-long World Autism and Down Syndrome Awareness Day 2023 at SK Laksamana here yesterday (April 18).
At present, SK Laksamana has 88 children with special needs including autism, down syndrome or dyslexia.
Despite having 10 classes, the school is facing a shortage of teachers, having only 13 out of the necessary 15 teachers for PPKI.
Chong, who is also Padungan assemblyman, also commended the teachers for their passion and patience in teaching the children with special needs.
SK Laksamana headmaster Mahdi Mantali, Special education senior assistant Abg Mohd Firdaus Abg Madeni and Parent and Teacher Association (PTA) chairman Boniface Lembang Jingai were present. — DayakDaily
