THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES – FOCUSING ON PRIMARY EDUCATION 26 71. In addition, the Ministry of Education supported by several other government agencies27 has initiated its own LINUS outreach programmes, where an interagency multi-disciplinary team will go down to the ground, in particular in the interiors, to identify Year 1 and Year 2 students (aged 7 and 8) who have not attained the minimum threshold, and, where applicable, certify them as encountering learning disabilities. Officials involved in these outreach programmes include medical officers, an occupational therapist, audiologist, speech pathologist, clinical psychologist, ophthalmologist as well as nurses, councillors and special education teachers. In 2013 alone, the Ministry of Education conducted 36 LINUS outreach programmes during which a total of 884 students were identified as having learning disabilities.28 72. It has been argued that while LINUS may identify children who exhibit learning difficulties, it is not designed to detect all types of learning disabilities as it is possible that some children with learning disabilities may pass the tests.29 On the other hand, putting children in SEIP just because they fail the LINUS test may not be the best option for or in the best interest of such children. It should also be reminded that some children may fail the LINUS test not because of any form of disabilities but because of other factors, such as not having attended pre-schools. As such, there should be a more suitable mechanism to assess and verify the condition of a child before he or she is certified as encountering learning disabilities. 3.3.3 Affordability: Monthly allowance for students with disabilities enrolled in schools 73. Children with disabilities, including CWLD who are registered with the Department of Social Welfare and enrolled in schools, are eligible to receive a monthly allowance of RM150 each. Introduced in 2009, this allowance is given to encourage children with disabilities, including CWLD, to attend schools and to assist their parents in making necessary logistical arrangements including transportation, to send their children to schools. This allowance is paid through the Ministry of Education to the schools for disbursement. Based on the Ministry of Education circular,30 the payment is made twice a year and is made directly into the students’ accounts held in trust by the school. Withdrawal can be made by the parents and is limited to RM300 for every two months. 74. The Commission also heard allegations that some schools held the fund very tightly and that some parents had difficulties accessing this fund. The schools on the other hand asserted that payment would be released as long as the child had achieved 80% attendance in school.31 This approach is adopted to ensure that no parents abuse the fund and that the children benefit from the fund. As reported at the Meeting of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities held on 5 December 2013. Other government agencies involved include Department of Welfare, Department of Health (State), and Department of Orang Asli Development. 28 Ibid. 29 SUHAKAM Forum on the Right to Education for Children with Learning Disabilities, 26 April 2013, Kuala Lumpur. 30 Surat Pekeliling Kewangan Bil. 3 Tahun 2009, Elaun Murid Berkeperluan Khas (Kategori OKU). 31 Based on information gathered from the Commission’s visit to SK (L) Jalan Batu, Kuala Lumpur and SK Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar. 27