New Straits Times

‘NO CHILD WILL BE LEFT BEHIND IN EDUCATION’

Ministry to provide opportunit­ies, create suitable learning environmen­t

- AUDREY DERMAWAN NIBONG TEBAL audreymd@nst.com.my

THE Education Ministry will continue to ensure that no child is left behind in education, including special education needs pupils.

Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the ministry was committed to ensuring equality by providing opportunit­ies and creating an environmen­t suitable for all children.

Towards this end, she urged more non-government­al organisati­ons to help the ministry to ensure the success of various programmes which involved the country’s education agenda.

She said one such example was Able Perfect Sdn Bhd. She said the firm, with the cooperatio­n of Yayasan Didik Negara, had helped set up multisenso­ry classes in four selected schools — namely SK Seri Sentosa here and SK Long Jaafar, SK Seri Setiawan and SK Pendidikan Khas Ipoh, all three in Perak.

“When we talk about education, it is important for us to look at access as one of the main cornerston­es.

“This is because issues involving access encompass various aspects such as demography, multidimen­sional poverty and equality for all, especially the special education needs students.

“The ministry always strives to provide opportunit­ies and space for special education needs pupils to enjoy learning like other mainstream pupils by ensuring they can follow equal and quality education and enjoy the best educationa­l facilities in line with the concept of humanity education based on the National Education Policy and Malaysia Education Developmen­t Plan 20132025,” she said at the launch of the special education programme’s multisenso­ry classes at SK Seri Sentosa here yesterday.

Present was Able Perfect Sdn Bhd vice-president (commercial) Ahmad Farid Kamarudin.

The multisenso­ry room provides a good opportunit­y to support the learning of pupils with special needs.

With various sensory elements such as light, sound, texture and colour, the multisenso­ry room can stimulate multiple senses and enable a more comprehens­ive and effective learning experience.

Able Perfect spent RM250,000 for the four multisenso­ry rooms.

Elaboratin­g, Fadhlina said in line with the direction of the country this year, the ministry had outlined six main directions namely the empowermen­t of Science, Technology, Engineerin­g and Mathematic­s, Digital Education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, school curriculum, upholding Bahasa Malaysia and Strengthen­ing Command of English and early preschool education.

She said a special committee had been establishe­d to oversee each of the six priorities.

“It is my hope that special education needs pupils can also be strengthen­ed through these six directions to ensure they are able to compete and achieve success in various fields, hence contributi­ng to the developmen­t of the country’s socioecono­mics.

“Indeed, special education needs pupils have great potential in driving education and national developmen­t,” she added.

 ?? ?? Fadhlina Sidek
Fadhlina Sidek

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