Special education for children with learning disabilities: Parental views

Background and Purpose: The Malaysian Education Act 1996 (1998) introduced inclusive education to ensure equal opportunities for all students, including those with special educational needs (SENs). While emphasising a child's right to education and a school's responsibility to provide support, parents of children with learning disabilities often face significant stress from unaddressed worries. This study, therefore, aims to investigate Malaysian parents' perspectives on their children's special needs education, acknowledging their critical role. Methodology: This quantitative study surveyed 60 parents of children diagnosed with learning disabilities via a virtual snowball sampling method. An adapted questionnaire was electronically distributed using WhatsApp and Facebook. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, with open-ended responses examined thematically. Findings: The survey revealed notably high levels of parental agreement across various aspects, demonstrating progress in Malaysian special education. Parents expressed satisfaction with aspects like their role as partners, parent-friendly resources, school support networks, and their child’s participation and acceptance. However, areas identified for improvement include teacher training, Inclusive Education Program (IEP) implementation, infrastructure, equitable public vs. private programme quality, and access to experts. Despite overall positive feedback, these specific concerns warrant attention. Contributions: These findings offer relevant parties, particularly the Ministry of Education, a crucial opportunity to re-evaluate and enhance the national special education programme. Policy and process changes, informed by collected data and stakeholder advice (parents, teachers, administrators, specialists), are essential. For instance, improving service quality requires providing teachers, especially in public schools, with proper training to manage diverse classroom needs. (249 words) Keywords: Parent perceptions, children, learning disability, inclusive education, special education. Cite as: Abdullah, H., Ab Wahab, N., Baharudin, D. F., Mohd Ali, M. A., Zakaria, Z. A., Saimin, R., & Abdullah, N. (2026). Special education for children with learning disabilities: Parental views. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 11(1), 276-290. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol11iss1pp276-290