Bukit Batu assemblyman Arthur Chiong said that by doing so, the state government can play its part in helping the education ministry to have 75% of special needs students enrol in the PPI programme by 2025.

The target was outlined in the Malaysian Educational Blueprint 2013-2025.

Chiong said the Barisan Nasional (BN) state government should also ensure that these students have access to suitable reading and learning materials, equipped with subtitles and other technical assistance as aids.

“The state government should provide cash incentives to special needs students at all educational levels to help them cope with the additional expenses that come with learning PPI.

“This cash incentive will help increase the participation of special needs children in this educational programme,” he said in a statement.

The PKR assemblyman also called upon the state government to work together with schools and other agencies to help improve the quality of PPI.

“This collaboration is crucial to help schools that are poorly equipped with facilities to aid in PPI learning,” he said.

PPI is taught at four different levels — preschool, primary, secondary and post-secondary levels.

Under this programme, special needs students, including those who are autistic, will study together with other students in the same classrooms.