General : 132 KEMAS Preschools For Children With Autism To Begin Operation In January

Melaka will soon host 132 Community Development Department (Kemas) preschools for children with autism, commencing operations in January next year. Datuk Mohd Hanafiah Man, the director-general of Kemas, announced that the admission screening process for these special-needs children will commence next month in partnership with the Health Ministry.

This initiative aims to assist nearly 2,000 children with autism, as the number of applications from parents is substantial. However, each class is limited to a maximum of 15 children, aged 10 to 15, with three teachers supervising five to seven children per class, adhering to established standards.

During an interview with reporters after the Melaka State Kemas Community Festival 2026, held at Semabok Dalam Multipurpose Hall, Datuk Hanafiah emphasized that attending these classes requires possessing a Persons with Disabilities (PwD) card issued by the Welfare Department. This requirement ensures alignment with the policies set by the Education Ministry.

Children in these special classes receive an allowance, mirroring the support provided to special-needs children by the Education Ministry. To ensure that these special-needs children can also benefit from the allowance or assistance planned by the Education Ministry, Kemas has taken the step of registering them with the Welfare Department.