Answer to Oral Question PL03

Reading Summary

📖 Reading time: 3 minutes
📊 Word count: 410 words

YANG BERHORMAT AWANG ZAINOL BIN HAJI MOHAMED

QUESTION:

YANG BERHORMAT AWANG ZAINOL BIN HAJI MOHAMED asks the MINISTER OF EDUCATION to state how effective the Integrated Education Scheme is in providing equal education access for the increasing number of special needs students. Does the government plan to involve the private sector to reduce costs, introduce special inclusive school models, or increase incentives to public schools to meet this need.

YANG BERHORMAT MENTERI PENDIDIKAN

ANSWER:

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim Yang Berhormat Pehin Yang Di-Pertua, Your Honourable Members, Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh and greetings

First, kaola/I would like to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to Yang Berhormat Pehin Yang Di-Pertua for the opportunity given to kaola/I today to explain several issues and actions taken by the Ministry of Education. On this occasion, kaola/I will answer question PL 03 posed by YB Awang Zainol Bin Hj Mohamed regarding the provision of equal education access for special needs students and the probability of the Ministry of Education collaborating with the private sector in providing education for these special needs students. Thank you for the question posed.

Alhamdulillah, one of the initiatives by the Ministry of Education, the Integration of Religious subjects into the general education system, commenced on 1st November 2023. This integration is seen as an Educational Transformation that opens more holistic and comprehensive learning opportunities for students while prioritizing Religious Education.

To ensure special needs students are not left behind in the implementation of the Integrated Religious Education, various efforts are actively underway, including the provision of Special Religious Education curriculum books prepared by the Special Religious Education Unit, Department of Islamic Studies, Ministry of Religious Affairs for the needs of special needs students in Priority Level 1 to 3 only. This group consists of special needs students capable of following the regular curriculum. Meanwhile, special needs students at a higher level, those at Priority Level 4 to 5, will be given special support and learning programs more suited to their abilities.

In this regard, to meet the increasing needs of high-level special needs students as raised by Yang Berhormat, Alhamdulillah, starting in January 2024, the first Special School, Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam School, was established with a registration of 96 students. This Special School provides an adapted curriculum and specialized support to assist high-level special needs students in their social development and life skills. The Ministry of Education welcomes the involvement of more private special schools that can provide specialized curricula for these high-level needs students.