PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said engagements for the 2026 Budget emphasise expanding ongoing initiatives in education, including support for autism.
“We have started this year with three (special needs Kemas tabika (preschools) or autisme tabika) in Melaka, and next year we will establish one in each state.
“By 2027, we will establish one autism tabika in every district,” he said.
Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, was speaking to reporters after the Rural and Regional Development Ministry’s monthly assembly here today.
He said that an engagement session on the budget with all stakeholders will be held this Thursday.
Zahid said the role of the Kemas Pra Tahfiz programme would also be expanded.
“There are now 10,883 kindergartens with this programme for our children aged three to six years old. The number enrolled is 125,000 and, InsyaAllah, we will increase this to 140,000 next year,” he added.
Zahid said that Kemas teachers in general would also undergo new training to improve pedagogy, moving away from conventional methods.
“We will be making several transformations,” he added.
Meanwhile, on higher education, Zahid said technical and vocational education and training (TVET) would be strengthened.
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