Govt assures autistic students will get place in public university
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir at the Dewan Rakyat, today. - Photo by Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR – The government has assured that a student with disabilities (PwD), who was allegedly denied the right to apply for admission to a public university due to autism, will still be offered a place at a public institution of higher learning (IPTA).
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said he has instructed an investigation into the case, which will be resolved soon.
"The matter involving the PwD student will be addressed. We will ensure that he can study at one of the IPTAs he requested.
"Most recently, I was informed that the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) is also looking into this case to see if it would be suitable to place the student there. I believe that it is among his preferred universities," he said during a Dewan Rakyat session here on Tuesday.
He was responding to an additional question from Khoo Poay Tiong (PH–Kota Melaka), who sought clarification on the case and the ministry's efforts to assist academically outstanding PwD students in enrolling at university.
A mental health organisation recently raised concerns over an incident where a student was allegedly barred from applying for placement in a public university because he had autism.
According to a Facebook post, the student, known as Aniq, reportedly achieved a matriculation Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.83 and met both the general and specific entry requirements for the programme he applied for.
Initially, Aniq was able to select a university programme during the second phase of the University Central Unit (UPU) system, but his choices later 'disappeared' in the following stage.
Zambry stressed that the government's policy ensures no individual with the required academic qualifications will be discriminated against when applying to a public university.
He explained that universities usually required confirmation of the type of disability a student has before proceeding with the application process, taking into account the facilities the institution can provide.
"The issue that arose was that he (the PwD student) applied under the PwD category and some universities wanted to know the specific type of disability so that adjustments could be made according to his condition," he said.
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