Bumbong lima: The unwavering dedication of teachers at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas (SMKPK) Bumbong Lima, in nurturing students with special needs, particularly those with autism, has borne fruit, with the school's 2025 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates achieving excellent results.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, these teachers go beyond the syllabus, tailoring their approaches to meet each student's individual abilities. School principal Rosiah Mohamad Ariff highlighted that the success reflects the collective efforts of teachers who never gave up in guiding students with special educational needs (MBPK) through learning and examination challenges. She noted that teachers at SMKPK Bumbong Lima act not just as educators but as mentors, motivators, and friends, understanding the emotional and behavioral needs of autistic students who require different approaches.
The school, operating since October 2023 and officiated by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, admits students across all categories of special educational needs, including hearing, visual, speech and physical disabilities, learning difficulties, and multiple disabilities. Of the six SPM 2025 candidates-four with autism and two with learning difficulties-all achieved excellent results.
Rosiah mentioned that the school has 51 teachers, but only eight are trained in special education, with a total student population of 150. The approaches used include visual learning, intensive repetition, and individual guidance sessions, which focus on each student's strengths. She expressed gratitude to all the teachers for their strong commitment and patience in caring for all the students.
Bahasa Melayu teacher, T. Selvam, with over 30 years of experience in special education, emphasized the need for great patience, creativity, and continuous commitment in teaching, particularly students with autism. He adapts his teaching methods to manage students' behavior, ensuring that their focus remains optimal throughout learning sessions.
Mathematics teacher, Mardhati Mohd Said, explained that each autistic student is unique and requires a different approach compared to mainstream students. She conducts additional one-on-one classes to help them better understand, recognizing that some students are sensitive to sound or have difficulty communicating.
Meanwhile, housewife Nor Hazanirianty Abdul Razak expressed her and her husband's surprise and joy at their autistic son, Muhammad Hazeem Zikry Mohd Hazree, achieving excellent results of 6A and 1B. She credited the teachers' expertise and dedication for not only improving Hazeem's academic performance but also his independence.
Muhammad Hazeem Zikry shared his happiness studying at SMKPK Bumbong Lima and his plans to further his studies in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), due to his strong interest in English. He thanked the teachers for their patience and encouragement, which enabled him to achieve excellent results in the SPM.
Another parent, Rafiqah Samsudin, noted the teachers' tireless efforts in improving her son, Muhammad Aqil Aiman Fuzi's academic performance and building his self-confidence and social skills. She expressed her satisfaction with her son's happiness at the hostel and the supportive environment provided by the teachers.
Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) representative, Khairul Anuar Ariffin, praised the teachers' strong commitment, acknowledging their sacrifices of time and money to conduct extra classes and provide encouragement to the students.