Special Education Statistics
Special Education Services are carried out by Learning Assistant Teachers (LATs).
These are specially trained teachers with a Certificate in Special Education (UBD
and Ministry Of Education).
By December 2003, a total of
211 SENA teachers had been trained in the Certificate of Special Education
Course. There are 96 primary schools with SENA teachers. Some schools with
pupil population over 500, have two SENA teachers. In the secondary level,
25 schools have SENA teachers.
Since 2002, Ugama religious
teachers have been invited to join the Certificate of Special Education Course.
So far, six of them have graduated in 2003 and are now implementing Learning
Assistance Programmes in the Ugama religious schools.
Since 1999, courses in B.Ed.
(Special Education) and M.Ed. (Special Education) were offered by Universiti
Brunei Darussalam as opportunities for SENA teachers to upgrade their skills. By
December 2003, 23 teachers had successfully completed the B.Ed. (Special Education
Course while 5 teachers, completed the M.Ed. (Special Education). A total of 95
teachers are still undertaking the B.Ed. (Special Education) Course.
As of November 30th, 1998 there are 89 primary schools with Learning Assistance Teachers.
Some schools with pupil population over 500, have two LATs.
The number of primary children with special needs served by LATs is 2,773.
Learning Assistance Programs have started in nine secondary schools. In January 1999,
the pre-vocational program in 15 secondary schools offered places for 200 learners.
During 1999 the following programs for children with special needs are being added:
Resources Centres for the Hearing Impaired;
Resources Centres for the Visually Impaired;
Resources Centre/Program for the Gifted, Creative and Talented.
Currently, three teachers are in the process of upgrading their qualifications in
the field of special education: one in the UK on a doctoral program, one in New Zealand
taking a diploma program in teaching the Hearing Impaired and one in the UK is training
to become a school psychologist.
Local training in 1998 included a course in Hearing Impairment, given by Dr. Maggie
Winzer, University of Lethbridge, AB, Canada, with a brief follow-up by Dr. Maisa
Al Mufti, from Egypt sent by The Islamic, Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization
(ISESCO).
Dr. Winzer also conducted a course in Teaching the Gifted, Creative and Talented.
In early 1999, Cikgu Asiah Hj Ahmad, Maktab Perguruan Ilmu Khas Kuala Lumpur will
offer a course in teaching the Visually Impaired.
