Abstract:

This study is conducted to develop a framework for post-secondary education in the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institutions for students with autism in Malaysia by examining the readiness of all the relevant stakeholders. The focus is on vocational education in terms of the needs of the autistic student population. A clear indication of this necessity is highlighted in the Malaysian Education Blueprint (2013-2025) for an inclusion of the autistic children in the education system by 2025. However, this inclusive programme has certain drawbacks because it only serves children under the age of 18 and there is no obvious post-secondary educational track particularly in the TVET domain for the autistics between the ages of 18 and 25. A total of five respondents from five TVET institutions, two officials from agencies handling autistic students, two from the local Welfare Department managing autistic children, were interviewed. The participants agreed that the issues of disability particularly autism were not adequately addressed in the education and training policies and implementation instruments in the participating TVET higher learning institutions. The respondents also made insightful recommendations for a comprehensive pathway for the inclusion of autistic students in the TVET education.

Keywords:

Inclusive education system, policy, special educational, autistic students, vocational education.