Kuala lumpur: 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 highlighted the government’s ongoing commitment to this sector, building on previous allocations.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the government, through Budget 2025, allocated RM10 million to support private autism schools, a move reflecting its commitment to ensuring equal access to education for this group. Fadhlina noted this allocation during a mock cheque presentation ceremony held at Sekolah Sinar Harapan, emphasizing the government’s dedication to equitable education access and recognizing efforts from stakeholders driving inclusive education.

During the event, Fadhlina mentioned that 12 autism education institutions from states including Penang, Selangor, Perak, Kelantan, and Johor received allocations and other assistance. She assured that such initiatives would continue to support the education system for children with special needs.

The MoE is actively conducting engagement sessions on Budget 2026, with special education allocation being a top priority. Fadhlina urged all parties to contribute suggestions to enhance efforts for providing these children with high-level skills suited to their needs.

Separately, Fadhlina addressed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s directive for large-scale housing projects to include schools and health centres, aligning with the ministry’s goals to address classroom overcrowding and traffic congestion. Anwar emphasized that projects with 3,500 or more residential units must incorporate educational and healthcare facilities, alongside commercial spaces and public transport access, to benefit local communities.