Taylor’s College and Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas Kota Kinabalu Unveil Upgraded Inclusive Music Room to Empower Special Needs Students

Mohamad Sufri Salim, Chief Assistant Director, Special Education Sector, Sabah State Education Department [bottom row, first from left], Josephine Tan, Campus Director, Taylor's College [top row, middle], Yang Berbahagia Datuk Ceasar Mandela Malakun, Senior Private Secretary to Yang Amat Berhormat Chief Minister of Sabah [top row, first from left], Muhammad Hamka Eallie, Headmaster of Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas Kota Kinabalu (SKPK KK) [top row, fifth from right], Hairiah Daud, Assistant District Education Officer, Tuaran, Special Education Unit, Learning Sector [top row, fourth from right] and Stefanus Lucas, RISE Educator Award 2025 recipient [top row, second from right], accompanied by students with learning disabilities in the upgraded Bilik Muzik Inklusif.

Taylor’s College and Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas Kota Kinabalu (SKPK KK) have unveiled the upgraded Bilik Muzik Inklusif (Inclusive Music Room), a nurturing and sensory-rich space for students with hearing impairments and learning disabilities to experience music.

The transformation was made possible through the RM50,000 sponsorship from Taylor’s College, awarded to Cikgu Stefanus Lucas, recipient of the RISE Educator Award 2025. Thoughtfully equipped with both traditional and modern instruments, the room is designed to help students connect with music through rhythm, vibration and visual cues.

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Ceasar Mandela Malakun, Senior Private Secretary to Yang Amat Berhormat Chief Minister of Sabah [second from left], Josephine Tan, Campus Director of Taylor's College [middle] and Mohamad Sufri Salim, Chief Assistant Director, Special Education Sector, Sabah State Education Department [second from right] officiated the upgraded Bilik Muzik Inklusif, with Muhammad Hamka Eallie, Headmaster of SKPK KK [right] and Stefanus Lucas [left], RISE Educator Award 2025 recipient and driver of music education in SKPK KK.

The event was graced by the presence of Mohamad Sufri bin Salim, Chief Assistant Director, Special Education Sector, Sabah State Education Department, who commended the collaboration for its commitment to nurturing inclusive learning environments for all students. “This initiative reflects the spirit of collaboration that drives our national education agenda, where the public and private sectors come together to ensure every child, regardless of ability or background, has access to quality learning opportunities. Partnerships like this not only enhance inclusivity but also strengthen the ecosystem that supports lifelong learning and community development.”

Also present at the event was Yang Berbahagia Datuk Ceasar Mandela Malakun, Senior Private Secretary to the Yang Amat Berhormat Chief Minister of Sabah.

Josephine Tan, Taylor’s College Campus Director, said, “Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, express, and thrive, regardless of their abilities. Through this upgraded Inclusive Music Room, we hope to empower Cikgu Stefanus to create a space where students can experience joy, confidence, and creativity through music. At Taylor’s College, we remain committed to supporting dedicated educators like Stefanus and continue to drive inclusive learning for every student. This marks the second school in Sabah that Taylor’s College has had the privilege to support, and we are humbled to play a small part in advancing education within the state.”

Since joining SKPK KK in 2024, Stefanus has championed music as a universal language for students with hearing and learning differences. What began with small, improvised activities has grown into a structured programme involving over 40 students, where music is felt through rhythm, vibration and movement. His efforts have enabled students to perform for the first time and earn recognition on international platforms, demonstrating that expression and creativity can thrive beyond sound.

Stefanus Lucas conducts a teaching demonstration, explaining how students with hearing impairment can follow lessons through beat, vibration and sensory-based learning method that he developed.

Sharing his journey, Stefanus Lucas said, “Many people assume music is only about hearing, but for my students, it is about feeling, seeing and expressing. When I first arrived, we had no music room, so I started with whatever I had, hoping to give them a new way to communicate and build confidence. Seeing their growth, from exploring simple rhythms to performing proudly on stage, has been the most rewarding part of my work. With Taylor’s College’s support, we now have Sabah’s first Inclusive Music Room, which allows us to expand our workshops, training and resources. This room is not just a facility; it is a reminder that we should always focus on ability, not disability.”

Headmaster Muhammad Hamka bin Eallie also expressed his gratitude for the collaboration, saying, “This initiative represents more than just a classroom upgrade, it brings hope and opportunity to our students. For many of them, music has become a new way to communicate, build confidence, and express joy. We are deeply thankful to Taylor’s College for recognising the potential of our educator and learners and supporting our vision of education that empowers every child to shine.”

Earlier this year, Taylor’s College crowned Stefanus Lucas as the RISE Educator Award 2025 recipient. He was awarded RM5,000 for his achievement and RM50,000 for his school. Additionally, four other finalists also received RM1,000 each, with an additional RM10,000 channelled to their respective schools to enhance facilities and learning environments.