THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES –
FOCUSING ON PRIMARY EDUCATION
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(Source: Department of Social Welfare.)
121. It cannot be denied that CBRs have many dedicated and passionate
personnel. Yet, they should not be expected to teach CWLD as most of them
may not be academically qualified and professionally trained to undertake
such tasks.
122. In addition, during its visits to a few CBRs, the Commission observed the
shortage of trained personnel and rehabilitation facilities.
123. While recognising that CBR provides early intervention and, is where
rehabilitation programmes and services are being carried out, nonetheless
it should not be in any way be regarded as a substitute or replacement
for schools. Instead, programmes in CBR are necessary and pertinent to
prepare the CWLD for formal schooling. The school should remain as the
place to provide formal education for all children including the CWLD.
124. In addition, the Commission noted that the number of CBRs, as depicted
in Table 11 above, is insufficient to cover the actual needs throughout
Malaysia.
3.8 PUBLIC AWARENESS
125. By and large, public awareness on CWLD and their special education
needs is very low. Stigma, ignorance and discriminatory practices drive the
exclusion of CWLD.
126. Community acceptance of CWLD is hard to come by; the stigma on CWLD
is still high and this leads to many discriminatory practices against CWLD.
Likewise, a majority of mainstream teachers and students are either ignorant
or not sufficiently informed of the special needs of CWLD and the importance
of education to them.
127. The Commission took cognisance of instances where parents of students
without learning disabilities who, due to lack empathy and understanding
of the special needs of CWLD, demanded that the school administration
exclude and separate CWLD from mainstream classes.56
Special needs learners face obstacles, The Star, 24 August 2014. Available at http://www.thestar.com.
my/News/Education/2014/08/24/Special-needs-learners-face-obstacles/
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