Undertake heart-based strategy as a part of particular schooling wants strategic plan: Nori
KUALA LUMPUR: Adopting a “heart-based” approach to developing future leaders must be considered as part of a strategic plan for students with special educational needs (SEN), said Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia Chairman Nori Abdullah (pix).
In this context, she said that a heart-based approach means that the quality and affairs of the heart are conscientiously incorporated into decisions, actions, and outcomes.
She also practices things like compassion, empathy, consideration, kindness, and love, which are universal and do not require a specific religion or belief, she said.
“… if we believe that leaders have to have compassion, empathy and things like courage and conscience, these qualities are simply needed to develop them in young people.
“By definition, you cannot promote (future leaders of young people) without qualities of the heart,” she said today about Zoom in her keynote speech at the 2021 opening symposium of the Kiwanis Malaysia Academy SEN.
Also in attendance were Salmah Jopri, Director of Special Education at the Ministry of Education, and Datuk Fatimah Saad, Chair of the Kiwanis Malaysia Academy.
Nori said the SEN area needs to recognize teachers who value the importance of building connection and relationships with their students, and not just using math equations or science formulas.
“We need educators qualified enough and better equipped to teach all types of learners,” she said.
In addition, Nori also noted that Malaysia has a shortage of teachers and subject matter experts for children with special needs and this problem has been identified by local SEN experts
“The global benchmark (number of SEN teachers and experts) is one to four, and we (Malaysia) is one to ten,” she added.-Bernama
