Special Needs Education A Priority Under Budget 2026 - Fadhlina

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- Empowering educational institutions for students with special needs is among the key focus areas of the Ministry of Education (MoE) under Budget 2026, which is scheduled to be tabled on Oct 10.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the government, through Budget 2025, had allocated RM10 million to support private autism schools, a move that continued its commitment to ensuring that the group was not sidelined from receiving equal access to education.

“For the first time, a special allocation of RM10 million was made under Budget 2025 to support private educational institutions that cater to children with autism and special needs.

“This reflects the MADANI Government’s commitment to equitable access to education, not just in terms of financial assistance but also in recognising the efforts of all stakeholders involved in driving inclusive education in the country,” she told reporters after attending a mock cheque presentation ceremony for autism schools at Sekolah Sinar Harapan here today.

Fadhlina said during the event, 12 autism education institutions from Penang, Selangor, Perak, Kelantan and Johor received allocations and other forms of assistance, adding that such initiatives would continue from time to time to support the education system for special needs children.

Fadhlina said the MoE was currently conducting engagement sessions on Budget 2026, with special education allocation being among the top priorities.

“Therefore, I call on all parties to offer suggestions, proposals and ideas so that we can strengthen efforts to ensure these children are given their rightful place in the education system, particularly in terms of high-level skills suited to their current needs,” she said.

On a separate matter, Fadhlina said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for all large-scale housing projects to be equipped with schools and health centres was in line with the ministry’s efforts to address overcrowding in classrooms and traffic congestion, especially in newly developed areas.

“We fully support the directive as it aligns with our existing needs, which have often been raised by the ministry.

“Every housing plan should include plans for schools because the absence of schools will lead to issues such as congestion, overcrowding, and a lack of space to accommodate students. So this planning is indeed in line with what the ministry has already outlined,” she said.

Yesterday, Anwar said that all large-scale housing projects in the country must be developed based on the MADANI concept, which includes the provision of educational infrastructure.

He said that projects involving the construction of 3,500 residential units or more must include educational facilities, commercial spaces for small traders, access to public transport, and healthcare premises to meet the needs of local residents.

-- BERNAMA