Inclusive education surpasses target
MORE than 40% of special needs students have enrolled in the Inclusive Education Programmes at national schools.
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said the ministry surpassed its target of having more than 30% of special needs students involved in the programme.
In 2017, there were 40.88% of special needs students in the programme.
“What is more assuring is that we are trying to make sure none of our children are left out, and we also focused on special groups in society such as Orang Asli and indigenous students, high-risk students and special needs students,” he said when launching the 2017 Annual Report of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025.
The number of students increased to 32,148 in 2017 compared to 23,050 in 2016.
“We will continue to increase the involvement of special needs students in school from time to time,” he added.
Dr Maszlee also said that the ministry will continue to “work hard” to ensure all children are given an equal opportunity for education.
“We should work together to achieve our vision without looking at gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic status,” he added.
He elaborated that the “vision” was to achieve the six student aspirations in the Blueprint – knowledge, thinking skills, leadership skills, dual-language skills, ethics and spirituality and national identity.
Dr Maszlee said the Government invested heavily in education with
RM42.9bil allocated last year.
He added that due to this big investment, there is a need to carry out mid-term reviews on the Blueprint to see if it needs to be changed or improved upon.
He added that every member of the education fraternity, including ministry staff and clerks, play an important part in ensuring the Blueprint is a success.
“We need to be courageous and honest to ensure that we are able to achieve our goals, because there
is a new spirit and reality that requires us to challenge how we perform our existing duties.”
Education director-general Datuk Dr Amin Senin said 2017 marks the second year of the second wave of the Blueprint.
“Therefore, it is every citizen’s aspiration that education initiatives launched by the Malaysian government are consistent, well implemented, and achieves the promised outcomes,” added Dr Maszlee.
He also said he welcomes, encourages and is leading the changes happening in the country.
“I hope that the transformation agenda in the Blueprint brings great meaning to all Malaysians.”
Besides aiming to raise literacy and numeracy skills, increase preschool and primary school enrolment and reduce the urban-rural gap, the Blueprint was also put into place to transform the country into an advanced high-income economy.