Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (right) meeting with the students of Merbok Vocational Special Secondary School after attending the opening ceremony of the Bumbong Lima National Secondary School for Special Education (SMKPK) on Sunday (Aug 6).
KEPALA BATAS: Students with special educational needs have the ability and potential to contribute to the development and progress of education in the country.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the Education Ministry was always committed and continued to provide adequate access and facilities for these students to succeed in the education sector.
"The Education Ministry is always committed to improving access to education, especially for children with special needs.
"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, here on Sunday (Aug 6).
Fadhlina said SMKPK Bumbong Lima, which was the 35th special needs school in the country and the fifth in Penang, reflects the the Education Ministry’s commitment to giving special attention to students with special needs.
Therefore, allocation in the Federal Budget for students with special 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 Education Ministry would not leave any groups behind in education.
It included providing access to education to students who did not have identification documents and did not have citizenship, through the initiative of the Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih (SBJK) initiative for sickly students and those who were in the shackles of poverty.
SMKPK Bumbong Lima would educate 192 students, including 160 who stay in the hostel and 32 who were not staying in hostel.
The school would begin operations in October this year 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 was equipped with dormitories, academic blocks, sports facilities, bus garages, halls and other facilities. - Bernama
