Selangor Journal
OKU Sentral president Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi (third from left) chatting with other disable persons during the launch of the Cabaran OKU programme at Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, on November 6, 2021. — Picture by BERNAMA.

Higher Education Ministry, Unesco collaborate on policy for disabled persons

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 (Bernama) – The Higher Education Ministry (MOHE), in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), has developed an Inclusive Open Educational Resources (iOER) policy specifically for persons with disabilities (PwD).

Its director of the holistic student division, Higher Education Department, Associate Professor Dr Mohd Suzeren Md Jamil said the policy was aimed at making it easier for PwD to access, obtain and use open educational materials online.

“This policy will be a national policy that applies to all institutions in providing teaching and learning materials.

“It will also be submitted to Unesco to be accepted, referred to and adapted by other countries,” he said when officiating at the National Convention for Students with Disabilities 2021 which was held virtually, today.

He said to ensure the needs and well-being of PwD students were given priority, the Higher Education Department also agreed to set up a disability inclusion committee.

The committee will comprise representatives from the ministry, top management of institutions of higher learning (IPT), service officers as well as representatives of the disabled community to examine and discuss issues arising, including those related to admission to IPTs and welfare management of PwD students.

Mohd Suzeren also said a website-based system, the Inclusive Campus Framework Project to Increase the Admission of Students with Disabilities to Public Universities (MyU-OKU) has also been developed to help universities assess the preparedness of institutions in creating inclusive campuses that meet the needs of PwD students.

“This preparedness of public universities will be assessed based on governance, teaching and learning, support services as well as accessibility and connectivity of the campus environment. MyU-OKU will also be fine-tuned from time to time.

“MOHE is always committed to and concerned with efforts to renew the landscape of higher education in Malaysia to be truly inclusive for all, and this desire supports the values and characteristics applied in the concept of ‘Keluarga Malaysia’ (Malaysian Family) which emphasises the aspects of inclusivity, common ground and contentment,” he added.

— Bernama

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