THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSITION PROGRAMME FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS IN PENANG STATE

Abstract

The problem of this study is concerned with the implementation of the transition program and the lack of standard guidelines to be used as a guide to the implementation of the transition program in integrated special education secondary schools. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the implementation of transition program for students with learning difficulties in integrated secondary schools and propose a set of guidelines that can be used as a reference in the implementation of the transition program. The first objective of this study is to examine the implementation of the transition program in integrated special education secondary schools. The second objective is to assess the skills mastered by the special education students in the perception from teachers, parents and employers who are hiring former special education students. The third objective of this study is to understand the factors that contribute to the success of the transition program, or deterioration in the integration program of special education. The fourth objective is to identify the relationship between the transition programs with the transition skills acquired by special education students with learning difficulties. The fifth objective is to develop standard guidelines which contain positive psychology as a reference for the practice of the transition program in the future. Four research questions investigated in this study. Quantitative and qualitative surveys were used for the study design. The sample consisted of 154 students involved in the transition program were taken as samples for quantitative studies, while a total of five special education senior assistants, twenty parents and ten employers were taken as respondents for the qualitative research. Five sets of questionnaires designed to assess the transition skills of special education students. CIPP model was used to assess the implementation of the transition program. The results showed that the implementation of transition program needs is at a high level. While the overall transition skills mastered by the special education students are moderate and low. The main implication of this study is the contribution of transition guidelines, oriented positive psychology that can be used as a reference for the implementation of the transition program in integrated special education secondary schools in future. Finally, the findings have also contributed to the development of transition theory in Malay language.