Kemas expands preschool places for children with autism, 132 classes to open nationwide in Jan 2027

The Community Development Department (Kemas) will open 132 preschools for children with autism across Malaysia next January, with admission screening beginning next month in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

Each class will accommodate a maximum of 15 children, supported by three teachers, ensuring personalized attention.

Enrollment requires a Persons with Disabilities (PwD) card from the Social Welfare Department, aligning with policies by the Ministry of Education to enable special-needs allowances.

This initiative aims to benefit nearly 2,000 children, reflecting high parental demand.

MELAKA, Sept 27 — A total of 132 Community Development Department (Kemas) preschools for children with autism will open nationwide next January, with admission screening set to begin next month.

Kemas director-general Datuk Mohd Hanafiah Man said the screening would be conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.

“God willing, I believe this will benefit at least nearly 2,000 children with autism as the number of applications (from parents) is quite high.

“However, for the time being, we can only accommodate a maximum of 15 children per class specifically between 10 and 15 because each class will have three teachers... with one teacher supervising five to seven children, in accordance with established standards,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters after the opening of the Melaka State Kemas Community Festival 2026 at Semabok Dalam Multipurpose Hall here today.

The festival was officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

Mohd Hanafiah said one of the prerequisites for admission was a Persons with Disabilities (PwD) card issued by the Social Welfare Department (JKM).

He said the requirement was intended to align the programme with policies set by the Ministry of Education.

“If we look at the Ministry of Education, children in these special classes receive an allowance as special-needs children.

“Therefore, we also want to ensure these special-needs children are registered with JKM so that they, too, can receive the allowance or assistance planned by the Ministry of Education,” he said. — Bernama

*Editor’s note: Kemas is the Malay abbreviation for Jabatan Kemajuan Masyarakat, or Community Development Department.

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社区发展部（Kemas）将于明年1月在马来西亚各地开设132所自闭症儿童幼儿园，并将于下个月与卫生部合作开始入学筛选。

每个班级最多容纳 15 名儿童，由三名教师指导，确保每位儿童都能得到个性化的关注。

入学需要持有社会福利部门颁发的残疾人证，这符合教育部为获得特殊需求津贴而制定的政策。

这项计划旨在惠及近 2000 名儿童，反映了家长们的强烈需求。

马六甲，9月27日讯——全国共有132所由社区发展部（Kemas）设立的自闭症儿童幼儿园将于明年1月开学，入学筛选工作将于下个月开始。

马来西亚防灾减灾署总监拿督莫哈末·哈纳菲亚·曼表示，此次筛查将与卫生部合作进行。

“如果上帝保佑，我相信这将至少使近 2000 名自闭症儿童受益，因为（家长）的申请数量相当高。

“但是，就目前而言，我们每个班级最多只能容纳 15 名儿童，具体来说是 10 到 15 名，因为每个班级将有三名老师……按照既定标准，一名老师要监督五到七名儿童，”他说。

今天，他在马六甲州 Kemas 社区节 2026 在 Semabok Dalam 多功能厅开幕后接受记者采访时说了这番话。

该节日由首席部长拿督斯里阿布劳夫尤索主持。

莫哈末·哈纳菲亚表示，入学先决条件之一是持有社会福利部 (JKM) 颁发的残疾人证 (PwD)。

他表示，这项要求旨在使该计划与教育部制定的政策保持一致。

“如果我们查看教育部，就会发现这些特殊班级的孩子们作为特殊需要的儿童会获得津贴。

“因此，我们也希望确保这些特殊儿童在社会福利署（JKM）登记，以便他们也能获得教育部计划提供的津贴或援助，”他说道。——马新社

*编者注：Kemas 是 Jabatan Kemajuan Masyarakat 或社区发展部的马来语缩写。

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