SeaMeo SEN gives priority to early childhood care, education
KUCHING: The Southeast Asian Minister of Education Organisation Special Education (SeaMeo SEN) is working through integration, networking and partnership to ensure its priorities are addressed and implemented in various programmes.
Its director Datin Dr Yasmin Hussain said priorities were given to early childhood care and education, addressing barriers to inclusion and ensuring resiliency in the face of emergencies.
“We are also promoting technical and vocational education and training, harmonisation in higher education and research, revitalising teacher education and adopting a 21st century curriculum,” she said at the launch of the Second International Conference on Special Education ( ICSE) at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching ( BCCK) here yesterday.
Yasmin said SeaMeo SEN had been conducting community-based events to increase awareness and acceptance of individuals with disability in the society.
She added that those events were also meant to accommodate their needs in the community in terms of access, engagement and equity.
“We in SeaMeo SEN are working through integration, networking and partnership to ensure that the priorities are well addressed and implemented in our programmes.
“The organising of ICSE 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand and ICSE 2017 is one of the initiatives to provide the platform and opportunities for exchange of best practices in teaching and learning of children with special educational needs and to provide information in recent trends in Special Education,” she pointed out.
Yasmin said institution leaders, communities and educators must work together to ensure that special children would be included in all aspects.
She stressed that it was pivotal for special children to be given the rights to live, to learn, to grow and to have equal opportunities to lead their lives.
“I do hope the line of speakers, experts and presenters in this conference will give you insights, ideas and aspire all of us to work with dedication and passion for our children with special needs,” she added.
Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg declared open the three- day conference themed ‘Access and Engagement’.
Among those present were State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad 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 SeaMeo SEN secretariat deputy director Prasert Tepanart.