KUCHING: Spark Child Development Centre has recently embarked on the journey to make inclusions in schools for children with special needs so as have equal access to learning.
Two initiatives have been carried out to advocate the importance of inclusion for children in schools with disabilities which include the invitation of teachers from SJK(C) Nan Kai to its pilot workshop on November 26, at Spark Child Development Centre’s headquarters in Kota Damansara.
Aside from that, on November 23, Spark Child Development Centre and the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a mutually beneficial relationship based on research, academic, and industrial collaboration, allowing both parties to undertake technological development to assist teachers, parents, and caregivers in diagnosing disabled children.
“I am grateful to be a part of this collaboration with Spark Child Development Centre since it is extremely valuable not only for the children with special needs but also for the people who care for them. Technology advancement will play a significant role in medical contributions to the special needs community as a result of this collaboration. We hope that this collaboration will inspire future collaborations, projects, and grants involving researchers that support a good cause,” stated Professor Datuk Dr Khairuddin Ab. Hamid, vice-chancellor and president of the University of Technology Sarawak.
“At Spark Child Development Centre, our main mission is always to ensure children with special needs can be accepted by the general public and learn how to adapt to a varied environment before they even step foot in schools. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to partner up with SJK(C) Nan Kai to provide a meaningful workshop with complimentary access for primary and secondary school teachers to learn about inclusion and readiness for school,” said Dr Tan Gek Ling, Founder and CEO of Spark Child Development Centre.
“We understand that advocating inclusion for children with special needs in schools is a long process and requires great support from all relevant parties, but one of us has to step up and do what is needed for these children. We are thankful for all the contributions we have received thus far and we are optimistic about the expansions of these workshops in schools all across Malaysia,” she added.
Children with special needs have been kept out of the limelight in the education sector, which has led to segregation and discrimination among the students. This has sparked a significant debate in the sector about establishing inclusion in schools, particularly in Malaysia’s mainstream schools.
With that, Spark Child Development Centre is implementing this workshop to help teachers learn how to accommodate children in different classroom settings.
Additionally, this workshop intends to assist mainstream schools in their understanding of common children’s disabilities like Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Dyslexia, and others. Given the positive reception to the pilot workshop conducted with teachers from SJK(C) Nan Kai, SJK(C) Chong Fah Phit Chee and Premfield International School, Spark Child Development Centre is confident that more schools in Malaysia will benefit from this awareness campaign which is in line with the Malaysian Education Blueprint’s target of 75 per cent children with special needs in inclusive education programmes by 2023.
Spark Child Development Centre has managed to raise approximately RM16,000 with generous support from reputable parties to make schools a better place for children with special needs.
All donations received are contributed to the PIBG of SJK(C) Nan Kai for the development of inclusion programmes and facilities for children with special needs in the foreseeable future.
To better champion, the inclusion of children with special needs in schools, Spark Child Development Centre has collaborated with the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) to establish a mutually beneficial relationship.
For more information about inclusions in school and children with special needs, visit Spark Child Development Centre’s official website at https://sparkcdc.com.my/ or Spark Child Development’s social media platforms, Instagram @sparkchildcentre and Facebook page.
