Kuala lumpur: The number of students with special needs registered at Ministry of Education (MOE) institutions stood at 161,891 as of May 31, 2026, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said. He stated that 141,545 students were categorized under learning difficulties, with autism being the largest group, comprising 53,169 students.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, intellectual disabilities accounted for 39,254 students, specific learning difficulties for 24,148, ADHD for 13,337, Down syndrome for 4,501, global developmental delay for 3,741, and other conditions for 3,395 students. Students with special educational needs in the learning difficulties category are provided access to education through the Integrated Special Education Programme (PPKI) at Special Education Schools or the Inclusive Education Programme (PPI), he mentioned in Parliament.
In response to Tan Kok Wai (PH-Cheras), Wong clarified that as of May 31, special education programmes were being offered in 7,406 schools nationwide. This included 35 Special Education Schools, 2,907 schools with PPKI, and 4,406 schools with PPI. The MOE is working on improving infrastructure and welfare provisions for special needs students through national education development plans to support the rise in enrolment.
He revealed that the government had approved eight new Special Education School construction projects from the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) to the 13MP, aiming to enhance the educational framework for these students. Under the 12MP, 80 projects involving the construction of new or additional PPKI buildings were approved, with five completed, 22 ongoing, and 53 in the pre-construction phase. Moreover, 38 special education building expansion projects under Budget 2026 are in the planning stage.
To expedite the construction of facilities, the MOE adopted the Industrialised Building System (IBS), leading to the completion of 40 PPKI classrooms in 10 schools in 2025, with another 241 classrooms in 46 schools expected to be completed this year for use next year.
As of today, 95.8 percent of special education teaching posts nationwide had been filled. From 2023 to July 2026, 1,055 new special education teachers were appointed to fill DG9 Education Service Officer vacancies, including 664 primary school teachers and 391 secondary school teachers.
Addressing the ratio of special education teachers to students, Wong acknowledged the challenge of maintaining a ratio of one teacher to seven students in PPKI classes in urban areas like Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. However, he assured that efforts to enhance recruitment and training for special education teachers are ongoing to meet staffing needs.
The number of trainees admitted to the Bachelor of Teaching Programme for the special education option increased significantly, with 460 projected for 2025, compared to lower numbers in previous years, demonstrating the MOE's dedication to expanding the pool of qualified special education teachers.