Fifi Faulina Haji Zailani

I am a tutor (Psychological Studies and Human Development Academic Group) in SHBIE, UBD. My specialisation area is Special Educational Needs and Inclusive Education and am currently involved in teaching and supervising for the Master in Teaching, Master in Education (Special/Inclusive Education) and Diploma in Education programmes.

Prior to joining SHBIE, I have taught in several primary schools in Brunei for many years which makes it inevitable to study the nature and processes of children's learning as well as teachers' knowledge and skills in teaching children with and without difficulties (special educational needs). Currently I am looking into children's literacy development, specifically in understanding young children's cognitive processes of reading and spelling at word-level for Malay and English orthographies in hope to explain the learning of children with literacy difficulties.


My other research interest revolves around the concept of inclusion in schools and the society and how it is being defined by the education system of a country to be translated for policy and practice. Such an interest needs exploring factors for effective inclusion which include both child-related and environmental-related variables predicting successful implementation at school level. Amongst others, I am also interested in delving further into how transition postsecondary planning for employment or studies, and independent living for students with disabilities is conducted and to understand factors contributing to successful implementation.

Other topics of interest:
• The efficacy of special education teachers in handling students with disabilities in a regular classroom or a special resource room.
• The relationships between parental support and students’ smooth postsecondary transition for work or studies, and independent living.
• Support and services for students with disabilities for access to general education and postsecondary transition.
• The provision of work opportunities and the accessibility of vocational studies for students with learning disabilities after secondary schooling.

EDUCATION

Cert.Ed (Primary Education) - UBD
B.Ed (Primary Education) - UBD
MA in Inclusive Education - University of Reading, UK
(Currently studying part-time for Phd degree)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Inclusive/Special Education
Language and literacy skills amongts children
Language and literacy difficulties; dyslexia

FUTURE PROJECTS