SeaMeo SEN to increase number of specialist centres
KUCHING: The Southeast Asian Minister of Education Organisation Special Education ( SeaMeo SEN) will increase the number of specialist centres to 25 next year.
Deputy director of SeaMeo Special SEN Secretariat Prasert Tepanart said the present 21 specialist centres are specifically meant to undertake training and research programmes in Special Education.
“Although SeaMeo SEN is just into its fourth year of operation, the centre has performed beyond its age. SeaMeo SEN has been promoting awareness and the importance of including disability issues and concerns in all specialist centres.
“With the current global education direction, the education of the most marginalised and vulnerable group especially children with disabilities has been the focus of all programmes and activities in all SeaMeo centres,” he said at the opening of the 2nd International Conference on Special Education ( ICSE) at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here yesterday.
Prasert said “education is the momentum that directs changes and transformation of mindset and attitude and eventually the history of a nation”.
“With education, the future of marginalised groups especially children with disabilities can be changed and improved.”
He said the development of assistive technology, universal design and ICT had hastened the awareness and importance to educate children with disabilities.
“In SeaMeo , we are committed to providing programmes that are directed to address the needs of children with disabilities through all its 21 specialist centres,” he added.
Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg launched the three- day conference themed ‘Access and Engagement’. Among those present were State Legislative Assembly speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong, Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah and director of SeaMeo SEN Datin Dr Yasmin Hussain.