PRIMED FOR SUCCESS
2011/06/24
By Chuah Bee Kim
The disabled who received training at SMPK Vokasional Indahpura in Kulaijaya have moved on to greater things in life
SOME live in a realm of silence, some in a world of darkness, but with determination and drive, equal opportunities await the deaf and the blind.
Nazri Haswan, for instance, was born blind but he is a self-taught musician who also runs a foot reflexology centre in his homestate of Pahang.
The 20-year-old opened the centre in 2008, shortly after graduating from the Sekolah Menengah Pendidikan Khas (SMPK) Vokasional Indahpura in Kulaijaya.
Nazri, the eighth in a family of nine siblings and the only one blind, said his foot reflexology centre is doing moderately well.
"When I am not there, my sister will manage the place," he said.
Nazri grew up listening to rock songs, and taught himself to play the guitar at the age of 9.
In November 2002, the first Special Education School with a three-in-one concept for the learning disabled and the hearing- and visually-impaired was set up in Johor.
Two adjacent schools, SMK Indahpura 2 and SK Indahpura 3 in Kulaijaya, merged to create this school SMPK Vokasional Indahpura.
It opened in 2004 to offer various types of courses to the blind and visually-impaired, the deaf and hearing-impaired, and slow learners.
It has produced artists, graphic designers, professional photographers and entrepreneurs.
The courses include computer graphics, hairdressing and beauty, foot reflexology, hotel room housekeeping, laundry and cooking, academic subjects, music, sports and religious studies.
The school currently has 172 students and 69 teachers, most of whom are well-versed in sign languages.
Najiha Imirin, an English language teacher, said it is the teacher's duty to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each student.
"Some may not be able to cook, but are more adept at housekeeping or laundry.
"Just like those who are normal, children with special needs also have talents," said Najiha, who has been teaching at the school for the past five years.
Carolence Jaulin, who teaches how to do facials to the hearing-impaired, said some of the students were quick to forget what they had been taught.
"Teachers need to have patience when teaching at this school, but the challenge is worth it, and the experience satisfying," said Jaulin.
She has eight students in her class so she can give more attention to each of her students.
Nur Hafaidah Mohd Najamudin, who teaches cooking, said her students were taught how to handle food, make stock and soup and come up with a variety of dishes and desserts.
The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, accompanied by his children, the Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ismail, Tunku Aminah, Tunku Abdul Jalil and Tunku Abu Bakar, paid a visit to the school in conjunction with Kembara Mahkota Johor 2011.
The royal guests were treated to a marching drill by the deaf and hearing-impaired students and to a demonstration of goalball, which is a game for the blind and visually-impaired.
Muhamad Khairul Anuar Hussin, a teacher and goalball coach from Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar (MSAB), said the game was introduced in 2002.
"Johor is the first state to produce a team comprising teenage players," said Khairul.
"SMPK Vokasional Indahpura invited MSAB and students of Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas Princess Elizabeth for today's exemplary goalball demonstration," he added.
The game consists of six players wearing eye-shades trying to push the ball into their opponent's goal net, which is 9m long.
SMPK was declared a cluster school of excellence by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in 2009.
The school also garnered four goal medals, three silvers and a bronze in the 15th Malaysian Paralympic Games at the Stadium Hang Jebat in Krubong, Malacca, last year for bowling, swimming and petanque (lawn bowls).
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