KUCHING: The three-day Second International Conference on Special Education (ICSE) 2017 has attracted a participation from a total of 32 countries, including 11 from Southeast Asia.
It aims to improve the knowledge and skills for those involved in the special education field, especially for persons with disabilities.
Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said that Second ICSE 2017 presented an opportunity for education experts and specialists in the special education field to get together and exchange information as well as engage in dialogues to gain insights into the advancement and trend in special education.
“I am sure your discussion and deliberation during the conference will add to the much needed knowledge and to contribute to the enhancement of skills, especially for teachers and those involved in special education all around Southeast Asia, especially in Sarawak.
“Meaningful and directed discussion on special education should breed innovative ideas and also create opportunities for networking and programmes of inter-collaborations between organisations as well as countries,” said Johari during the launching ceremony of the Second ICSE 2017, held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), yesterday.
He added the State had always been supportive of agendas, programmes and events related to the development of persons with disabilities.
Johari also noted that his personnel are also personally active in effort to create the awareness of the matter pertaining to those persons with disabilities .
“Here in Sarawak, I am happy to say that our personnel are actively involved in awareness programmes and activities to create awareness of the needs and rights of persons with disabilities in order to be able to live a normal life and be successful in their areas of interest.
“Co-organising this conference with Southeast Asia Ministry of Education Organisation Special Education Need (Seameo Sen) is part of the overall efforts that Sarawak is taking as a measure reflecting the initiative towards the nation’s global Education Agenda 2030,” he said.
Johari also pointed that the success of the conference is of course very important as it will contribute to the growing global awareness to provide opportunities of access and engagement for persons with disabilities by way of accommodating their specialised needs, especially to create learning environment conducive for them to thrive.
“I sincerely hope that the proposed education agenda in ICSE 2017 for Special Education is met and well implemented in the Southeast Asian region in the near future.
“I would like to reaffirm Sarawak’s commitment to ensure that programmes related to persons with disabilities would be given the opportunity, space, time and the necessary resources to be successful, and be of benefits to them (persons with disabilities),” he said.
He also hoped that the ICSE 2017 would leave a lasting impact on all the participants.
Also speaking were Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation Special Education Need (Seameo Sen) director Datin Yasmin Hussain, she said that the 2nd ICSE 2017 theme this year is ‘Access and Engagement in Special Education’ which was deliberately chosen to reflect Seameo Sen’s awareness, effort and the necessity to address the current issue in special education.
She said that the educational agenda for children with special need is an ongoing effort and initiatives that need support, strategic, planning, effective policies and implementation of education system that are inclusive, current and innovative to cater to the need of these special children.
“Seameo Sen as a specialist regional centre in special education is committed to fulfilling its role as a centre that provides capacity building in special education, especially for the educators
“The objective of ICSE 2017 are augmented with the global educational agenda that are focused on increased awareness to provide access and engagement of children with disabilities in eduation,” said Yasmin.
She also pointed out that the intensification must be imperatively supported by capacitating educators of children with disabilities with the knowledge and skill that complement with needs of children with disablitites.
“A shift in the traditional delivery of education services and mind set are important to prevent further marginalisation of these children in the education system.
“Institution leaders, communities and educators must work together to ensure that these children are included in all aspects and be given the right to live, to learn, to grow and to have the equal opportunities to lead their lives,” she said.
Among the focused specific area that will be brought forward during the conference are nutrition, sports, therapies, information and communication technology, urban agriculture and many others.
