From July 2020, teachers in mainstream schools will get access to bite-size online learning modules that will better equip them to teach students with special educational needs (SEN).
Around 80% of students with special needs are taught in mainstream schools, while the remaining 20% with higher needs go to Special Education (SPED) schools.
In announcing this move on 5 March, Second Minister for Education Indranee Rajah said that funding for SPED schools has risen by about 40% in the past five years, but “we can and will do more”.
Three new SPED schools will be opened, she said, on top of the 19 existing schools.
Of the three, one is for students with moderate to severe special needs who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability.
The Ministry of Education is also recruiting more non-teaching staff to provide learning and behavioural support to students with special needs. In July 2019, it increased the number of training places for these allied educators from 60 to 600 a year.
These educators support children who have learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, as well as counsel and guide them on integrating into mainstream schools. Other allied educators include school counsellors, outdoor adventure educators and student welfare officers.
Ms Indranee also said that the SEN Fund will be extended to students with learning and language difficulties, such as dyslexia, and social and behavioural difficulties like autism.
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Source: The Straits Times, 5 March 2020