60 special needs students on better footing


By IlhamRizal


The Special Education Unit of the Ministry of Education yesterday held a certificate presentation ceremony to mark the successful completion of a five-year pre-vocational programme for 60 students with special needs.

Held at the Public Service Institute Gadong, the ceremony saw Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary/Director General at the Ministry of Education Dk Hjh Mastoli binte Pg Seri Indera Pg Hj Ismail presenting the certificates to the students.

The Special Education Unit introduced the pre-vocational programme at selected mainstream schools nationwide in 1999.

The programme adopts a skills-for-life approach to assist selected students to become more self-reliant in their everyday endeavours.

It requires students undergoing the programme to engage in practical activities such as woodwork, agricultural farming, handmade paper crafts and other creative handicrafts to develop certain skills that can hopefully benefit them in the job market.

The programme also plays a significant role in instilling confidence and social skills with an eye to raise motivation levels of the students. It seeks to develop the students into successful, self-reliant, self-fulfilled, caring and resourceful adults who are able to make informed choices and empowered to make a positive contribution to society.

Certificates were also presented to 36 teachers who had recently completed a refresher course conducted by the Pre-Vocational Division of the Special Education Unit.

Five teachers were presented with certificates of appreciation for their 10-year long service as homeroom teachers to the pre-vocational students.

Later, a motivational talk entitled 'Guide to Job-Hunting' was conducted by Dr Ee Ah Meng from the Career Guidance and Counselling Unit, Department of Schools, Ministry of Education.

Courtesy of BB weekend, 25 Janaury 2009. The event was held on the 24 Januari 2009