'MOE committed to providing educational access to disabled children'

Disabled students with specific educational needs have the ability and potential to contribute to the development and progress of education in the country.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said her ministry is always committed and continues to provide adequate access and facilities for disabled students to succeed in the education sector.

"For that reason, we provide quality education and training, strengthen capabilities and achieve universal enrolment," she told reporters after officiating the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas (SMKPK) Bumbong Lima yesterday.

Fadhlina said SMKPK Bumbong Lima, the 35th school in the country and the fifth in Penang that caters to disabled students, reflects the Education Ministry’s commitment to giving special attention to disabled students.

Therefore, allocation in the federal budget for such students’ needs was also increased and the government was developing a special education sports school in Bandar Enstek, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.

Fadhlina also promised that the ministry would not leave any groups behind in education.

It includes providing access to education to students who do not have identification documents and do not have citizenship, through the initiative of the Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih (SBJK) initiative for sickly students and those who are in the shackles of poverty.

SMKPK Bumbong Lima will educate 192 students, including 160 who stay in the hostel and 32 who are not staying there.

The school will begin operations in October involving 32 Form One students, then in March 2024 for Form One and Form Four students (academic and upper secondary vocational education).

The project was approved in the First Rolling Plan of the 11th Malaysia Plan (MP11) in 2016 and is equipped with dormitories, academic blocks, sports facilities, bus garages, halls and other facilities.

- Bernama