Rokiah Mahmud
It is high time for the education system to establish a new school that focusses on the needs for children living with autism, said Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin during yesterday’s 19th LegCo session.
He said the school is needed to help with a six-fold increase in autism cases over the last 10 years. “Some 2,567 individuals in the country have been diagnosed with autism, including children,” he said, adding that in the current school system children living with autism only get an average of four hours of week in secondary school.
“It is important to invest our time and efforts to create life-changing opportunities for children with autism,” he said.
Minister of Education Yang Berhormat Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh in her reply said that the ministry is working closely with institutions and associations that provide services for children living with autism.
