50 The Sector also paid special attention to school and university activity by developing plans and programs and appropriating necessary funds for their implementation plus meeting related needs. It furthered cooperation relations with sisterly and friendly countries as well as Arab, regional and international organizations through giving effect to scientific and cultural cooperation agreements, exchanging teaching staff and scholarships and benefiting from programs in advanced countries. One of the developments undergone by the Education and Scientific Research Sector is the introduction of the Education Office for Students with Special Needs which was established upon the decision of the People's General Committee no (665) for 2009 to implement the National Merger Project and give effect to Law no (5) for 1987 on People with Special Needs and its Executive Regulations. A decision was issued to the effect of steering schools to deal with students with special needs in their bid to incorporate into educational institutions under the Merger Program. There are currently (507) schools under steering. The Program is also dwelt on raising the level of awareness in the schooling environment, covering all categories; students, administration, teachers and the society in general. A national register for merging to enumerate students with special needs was established. The Assistant Teacher Program was approved to prepare (250) assistant teachers under training to support students with special needs in public education and to help merge persons with mental needs (moderate and average).