COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE MAINSTREAM AND SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS IN A RURAL PRIMARY SCHOOL, MALAYSIA

Authors

  • Gunasegaran Karuppannan Assoc. Prof Dr. Deputy Dean, Centre for Graduate Studies, University Selangor, Selangor, Malaysia orcid.org/0000-0002-9471-7883
  • Buvaneswary Balasubramaniam Assistant Principal, Sek. Men. Sultan Abdul Samad, Klang, Malaysia
  • Ananthi Kuppusamy Special Education Teacher, Sek. Men. Sultan Abdul Samad, PJ, Malaysia
  • Asma Binti Ahmad Teacher Sek Men Sg Leman, Sekinchan, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v8i2.4235

Abstract

Communication in an organization such as the school is important, especially the social and working communication among teachers. When communication among the teachers is effective, there would be a collaboration between them in work, especially when implementing the school curricular and co-curricular programmes successfully. In schools where there are two educational streams; the mainstream and the Special Education Integration Programme, it is vital that effective communication is given priority. This study describes and discusses the characteristics of work and social communication between the Special Education teachers and the mainstream teachers of a local rural primary school in Selangor, Malaysia. Four teachers from each stream were selected as respondents for the study. The findings revealed that there appeared to be good teachers’ communication from both streams. These teachers have collaborated in executing their tasks and they have developed a good rapport and effective communication in other fields of work as well such as co-curricular activities and other school activities such as the Parents Teacher Association meetings and Staff developments and sports. The findings through interviews with the teacher respondents and documents showed that the teachers have practiced their social intelligence, have used their interpersonal communication skills and have adopted a social network, ‘WhatsApp’ application in their communication in school. The school administrator has played its part too in establishing effective communication between superiors and subordinates.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Gunasegaran Karuppannan, Assoc. Prof Dr. Deputy Dean, Centre for Graduate Studies, University Selangor, Selangor, Malaysia orcid.org/0000-0002-9471-7883

    Gunasegaran Karuppannan is an Associate Professor at Universiti Selangor (UNISEL) situated in Malaysia. Currently he holds the post as Deputy Dean in Centre for Graduate Studies office. He received his Bachelor Degree (Hons in Genetics) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), then he continued his study at University Malaya to get his Masters degree in Educational Management. Finally, he received his PhD from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in 2004 on Educational Administration focussing on Special Education. His major research interests are the area of Special Education. He is an active researcher who has participated in various international conferences as conference chairperson, keynote speaker or normal presenter and has published articles in a number of journals. Associate Professor Dr. Gunasegaran Karuppannan is also the Associate Secretary for Malaysia in the Asia Pacific School Psychology Association. Also, member in Malaysian School Psychology Association and in Malaysian Psychology Association. Through-out his career, he had involved either as leader or member in a few research projects mainly focussing on special education. He has also written two books on special education.

  • Buvaneswary Balasubramaniam, Assistant Principal, Sek. Men. Sultan Abdul Samad, Klang, Malaysia

    Buvaneswary Balasubramaniam obtained her BA(hons) Social work Management in the year of 1997/2000 from University Utara Malaysia (UUM). She did her Diploma in Education in Maktab Perguruan Ilmu khas (2004/2005) and became a special education teacher in 2005. Currently she is working as Assistant Principal (Special Need) in SMK Sultan Abdul Samad, Klang Selangor. As a senior teacher for the past 17 years, she is experienced in delivering teaching and training within the field of special needs to different cohorts of students and educators. She articulates and accomplish school administrative tasks, experienced at keeping school projects and programs running smoothly. She is also leading various sorts of projects and programs for secondary school students with special needs (deaf and learning disabilities students) as well as extensive collaboration with local and international NGOs and work with them in various community.

  • Ananthi Kuppusamy, Special Education Teacher, Sek. Men. Sultan Abdul Samad, PJ, Malaysia

    Ananthi Kuppusamy obtained her Diploma in Education from Maktab Perguruan Ilmu khas and continued her BA(hons) in Special Education from University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Currently she is working as senior Special Education teacher in SMK Sultan Abdul Samad, Petaling Jaya Selangor. She got her Masters in Education from Universiti Selangor. As a senior special education teacher for the past 25 years, she is experienced in teaching the deaf and learning disabilities students. She has also conducted many projects involving special needs and mainstream students. She has also won awards as the best special education teacher.

References

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Published

2022-04-11

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2022)

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