PART 1 THE COMMISSION’S REPORT ON THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES – FOCUSING ON PRIMARY EDUCATION 3.3 BARRIERS TO EDUCATION FOR CWLD 3.3.1 Availability of Special Education Programmes in Malaysia 60. While the Government has established Special Education Schools for specific types of disabilities such as audio hearing and visual impairment, and more recently - autism, its special integrated education programmes (SIEP) are only available in selected schools throughout Malaysia.19 CHART 1: NUMBER OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS, SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL WITH SEIP20 61. It is observed that while the Government is expanding the number of schools with SEIP, it remains a concern that the majority of these schools are located in urban and suburban areas. There have been calls for the Government to introduce SEIP in more schools, especially in the rural areas. Arguably, parents in rural areas may have the option of sending their special needs children to Community-based Rehabilitation Centres (CBR), a programme coordinated through the Social Welfare Department of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development. However, as discussed further below, CBR does not have the same role and functions as the special education programme. Therefore, CWLD should be educated in schools as required by the CRC and CRPD. 62. It is safe and reasonable to conclude that with the low number of schools with SEIP in certain areas, some CWLD may encounter logistical difficulties in attending schools with SEIP. Complaints such as the long distance between the nearest schools with SEIP and their homes are frequently raised by parents of CWLD.21 That said, the Commission notes that the Ministry of Education See note 12 above. Source: Buku Data Pendidikan Khas 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010, Ministry of Education Malaysia. See too, Quick Facts 2014, 2013 and 2012, published by the Ministry of Education Malaysia. 21 A participant raised this issue in SUHAKAM’s Forum on the Right to Education for CWLD in Sabah in 2013. 19 20 23