Chapter 10
Technical Vocational Education Training
Pathway for Post-secondary Autistic
Students in Malaysia
Megat Khalid Puteri Zarina, Sairul Izwan Safie, Mohd Yuzri Mohd Yusop,
Cordelia Mason, and Wardiah Mohd Dahalan
Abstract The Malaysian Ministry of Education aims for 75% of children with
special needs to be enrolled in inclusive programmes by 2025 which are specially
designed for autistic children aged 5–17. However, this rehabilitation programme
is disadvantageous to a certain extent as it only caters for children below 18 years
old with no clear post-secondary educational pathway for autistic learners between
the ages of 18–25. The significantly growing number of children suffering from
learning deficits such as those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is now globally
researched with more importance being given to addressing this issue in countries
around the world [1]. The number of children in special needs programmes has also
increased greatly between 2006 and 2013 in Malaysia. Mentally challenged individuals are unique as they have skill sets that are valuable for their well-being and society
at large. This awareness justifies their inclusive development movement and global
efforts. Malaysia needs a clearer path for post-secondary technical vocational educational training (TVET) for autistic learners in Malaysia as an alternative to the purely
M. K. Puteri Zarina (B)
Student Development Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Institute of Marine
Engineering Technology Lumut, Perak, Malaysia
e-mail: puteri.zarina@fbk.upsi.edu.my
S. I. Safie
Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Institute of Industrial Technology, Masai, Johor, Malaysia
e-mail: sairulizwan@unikl.edu.my
M. Y. M. Yusop
Maritime Engineering Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Institute of Marine
Engineering Technology Lumut, Perak, Malaysia
e-mail: myuzri@unikl.edu.my
C. Mason
Yayasan Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
e-mail: cordelia@unikl.edu.my
W. M. Dahalan
Marine and Electrical Engineering Technology Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian
Institute of Marine Engineering Technology Lumut, Perak, Malaysia
e-mail: wardiah@unikl.edu.my
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
A. Ismail et al. (eds.), Advanced Engineering for Processes and Technologies II,
Advanced Structured Materials 147,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67307-9_10
91
Technical Vocational Education Training
Pathway for Post-secondary Autistic
Students in Malaysia
Megat Khalid Puteri Zarina, Sairul Izwan Safie, Mohd Yuzri Mohd Yusop,
Cordelia Mason, and Wardiah Mohd Dahalan
Abstract The Malaysian Ministry of Education aims for 75% of children with
special needs to be enrolled in inclusive programmes by 2025 which are specially
designed for autistic children aged 5–17. However, this rehabilitation programme
is disadvantageous to a certain extent as it only caters for children below 18 years
old with no clear post-secondary educational pathway for autistic learners between
the ages of 18–25. The significantly growing number of children suffering from
learning deficits such as those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is now globally
researched with more importance being given to addressing this issue in countries
around the world [1]. The number of children in special needs programmes has also
increased greatly between 2006 and 2013 in Malaysia. Mentally challenged individuals are unique as they have skill sets that are valuable for their well-being and society
at large. This awareness justifies their inclusive development movement and global
efforts. Malaysia needs a clearer path for post-secondary technical vocational educational training (TVET) for autistic learners in Malaysia as an alternative to the purely
M. K. Puteri Zarina (B)
Student Development Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Institute of Marine
Engineering Technology Lumut, Perak, Malaysia
e-mail: puteri.zarina@fbk.upsi.edu.my
S. I. Safie
Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Institute of Industrial Technology, Masai, Johor, Malaysia
e-mail: sairulizwan@unikl.edu.my
M. Y. M. Yusop
Maritime Engineering Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Institute of Marine
Engineering Technology Lumut, Perak, Malaysia
e-mail: myuzri@unikl.edu.my
C. Mason
Yayasan Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
e-mail: cordelia@unikl.edu.my
W. M. Dahalan
Marine and Electrical Engineering Technology Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian
Institute of Marine Engineering Technology Lumut, Perak, Malaysia
e-mail: wardiah@unikl.edu.my
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
A. Ismail et al. (eds.), Advanced Engineering for Processes and Technologies II,
Advanced Structured Materials 147,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67307-9_10
91