Space InSight-X 2026 Expands Astronomy Education Access For PwD, Vulnerable Groups

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- Access to astronomy and space science education will be expanded to more groups of persons with disabilities (PwDs) and vulnerable communities through the expansion of the Special Astronomy Module under the Space InSight-X 2026 Programme.

National Planetarium director Mohd Zamri Shah Mastor said the expansion would cover persons with learning and hearing disabilities through digital audio elements and sign language interpreter assistance, as well as vulnerable groups including the Orang Asli community, rural communities, the B40 group, senior citizens and refugees.

He said an English-language version of the module was also being planned for sharing with the international disability community through the Working Group on Inclusive Outreach under the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

“This year, we have added an ‘X’ to the Space InSight Programme, which stands for expansion. So, the programme is no longer limited to those with visual impairments, as the module can also be used to attract various groups to explore the fields of astronomy and space science,” he told Bernama.

Mohd Zamri Shah said this after attending the Inclusive Astronomy event, an initiative under the Space InSight-X 2026 programme here today.

Previously, visually impaired students in the country were able to “explore” space following the launch of the Special Astronomy Module for Students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) with visual impairments in July last year.

Mohd Zamri Shah said the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), through the National Planetarium, also planned to transform astronomy and space science teaching aids into digital platforms and smartphone applications to enable wider and faster virtual access.

He said videos demonstrating the use of the module in sign language had been recorded and would be uploaded to the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) DELIMa and DELIMa Flix portals for this purpose.

Earlier, 200 participants joined the programme, which featured various activities, including Space-Fit, Fun-Walk and Sembang Hentian, as well as a handover ceremony of the Astronomy Module for SEN students with visual impairments to Sekolah Menengah Pendidikan Khas Setapak.

-- BERNAMA