MOE urged to make education more affordable for blind students

GEORGE TOWN, Oct 11 (Bernama) – The Education Ministry is urged to make education more affordable to blind-visually impaired (BVI) students.

According to Daniel Soon Aik Bin, executive director of the St Nicholas Home, a multi-service institution serving the visually disabled in Malaysia, the current educational system for BVI students was outdated and could be upgraded with the latest technology which was expensive

He said braillists (experts at writing Braille), needed to spend a lot of time educational publications into Braille for BVI students, but were hampered by the constant changes in educational materials.

“These procedures can be shortened drastically, with reduced costs if we used the technology today,” he said, adding that the move will benefit BVI students who will then be able to catch up with normal students.

Earlier, chairman of the St Nicholas Home board of directors, Datuk Dr Charles Samuel had signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Wawasan Open University (WOU) acting vice chancellor Professor Dr Zoraini Wati Abas for a collaboration to provide free educational material for BVI students.

Meanwhile, Soon said the collaboration with WOU was to enable free access of educational materials for BVI students throughout Malaysia through an online open-source learning platform known as Moodle.

“The online library for BVI students will continue to expand from there and the Moodle-based Learning Management System (LMS) will also allow BVI students to participate in online threaded discussions with their peers, tutors and course coordinators,” he said.

He added that with the MOA, the University will provide LMS hosting services and technology support to the Home at minimal fees.

He also said the WOU's technology support will also allow the Home to use the LMS effectively and efficiently to enhance students' learning.

-- BERNAMA