Special Education Teaching in Malaysia

In Malaysia, becoming a special education teacher has become a job many crave - mainly motivated by the assumption of getting rich quickly!

What many do not understand is that, just like being any other type of teacher, special education teaching is not a profession you choose if you want to get rich fast. The route towards becoming a properly trained special education teacher is that you need to train first as a teacher. You need to choose what age range you wish to teach - early childhood, primary, or lower secondary, or upper secondary and train in that area in the first instance. It's just like wanting to become neuro surgeon. You have to first train to be a doctor. You need to understand the fundamentals of education first. 

After you have done this, then, you can go on to specialise - to teach special education. But again, with advancements in pedagogy, one now has to choose which area of special education they are passionate about. Is it sensory impairments that you enjoy working with? Do you prefer working with those who have literacy difficulties (specific learning difficulties) or those with social communication difficulties such as ASDs or those with genetic based disorders? Do you wish to work with learners with moderate to severe learning problems or those with severe to profound difficulties? 

Each of these areas requires specialised training and is equally rewarding. Back to the doctor analogy, its not normal to specialise in orthopedics and pediatrics, or to specialise in neurosurgery and gynecology! Likewise, it'is not normal to train as a teacher who works with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders and Specific learning difficulties (dyslexia). You don't train to work with learners with hearing impairments and visual impairments. You have to choose ONE area!! 

In Malaysia, one will find provisions falsely advertising their expertise in Autism and Dyslexia, and Down's Syndrome, with staff who are not even trained teachers let alone trained special education teachers! 

A degree in psychology is not a teaching credential. A degree in Cognitive Science is not a teaching credential. A Masters in Education is NOT a teaching credential. A Diploma in the managements of learning disorders is NOT a teaching credential. 

So, please, stop ruining the futures of innocent children in Malaysia by being unethical and engaging in bad practice! If you want to teach go become a teacher! Too many lives have been ruined by poor ethics and unprofessional individuals in the special education. Time for individuals to stop being greedy for money, time to stop cheating children and lying about abilities.