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October 25, 2009 20:12 PM
Dubai Training Centre Inspires Rosmah And Delegation
DUBAI, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor scooped Safiya Fairooz in her arms, smitten by the little girl's charm during a visit to the Al Noor Training Centre for Children With Special Needs here.
The four-year-old, who has Down's Syndrome, is one of 260 children from various nationalities enrolled at the centre established 28 years ago and licensed to run under the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Labour and Social Affairs Ministry.
"We can learn a thing or two from them regarding the development of children with special needs in our own country," she said of the comprehensive and scientific approach deployed by the centre in educating and training such children.
The centre has an army of special educators, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, aromatherapists, vocational trainers, technicians and nurses.
The prime minister's wife, who is in Dubai to take part in the Women in Leadership Forum starting today, expressed confidence that Malaysia would one day have facilities on par with Al Noor.
She pointed out that Al Noor had a ratio of one trainer for every child, a situation that would involve a lot of money.
"It boils down to the question of budget (if it's to be done in Malaysia)," said Rosmah who spent two hours at the centre accompanied by her entourage comprising Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil as well as wives of several ministers and state leaders.
Present was Malaysian ambassador to the UAE Datuk Yahaya Abdul Jabar.
Rosmah presented contributions of around RM20,000 from the Rahah Foundation and members of her delegation, to the centre which was represented by Khalid Al Halyan, who is its chairman.
She told Malaysian journalists covering her visit that what struck her most was the dedication and the level of expertise of the centre's personnel sourced from countries like India.
"This is where we may need to review how we employ staffers for our existing facilities for people with special needs," she said.
When asked whether what was being done at Al Noor would be considered for implementation under the Permata childcare and education initiative which she champions, Rosmah responded: "Insyallah (God willing)."
Echoing Rosmah's sentiment, Shahrizat said what caught her attention about Al Noor was the expertise possessed by its staff.
"I think this is where Malaysia must improve. I'll be focusing more on this aspect once I get back home," she promised.
According to her, the ministry would think of ways to improve services for people with special needs.
The Al Noor training centre's vision is to assist all individuals with special needs to achieve their highest potential.
Intellectually-challenged boys and girls of all levels of ability and all nationalities, between the ages of three and 16, are admitted for the regular morning programme.
As for Safiya, she seemed content basking in the attention of Rosmah as well as the rest of the Malaysian delegation.
-- BERNAMA
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