从“心”认识特殊教育 (Special education: matters of the heart)

Authors
Cindy Peh Lee Ji, Lin Liying & Teo Sijia

Supervisor
Prof Hao Xiaoming

Year
2014

Abstract
Special education has always received less attention from the public, as compared to mainstream education. Even till today, there is still a lack of public awareness of what it is, and what goes on within the special schools. Parents of special needs children are, unsurprisingly, most concerned about their children’s future. They worry about whether their children can fend for themselves in Singapore’s highly competitive job market. Those with children who have more severe disabilities wonder if their children will be able to receive adequate care when they grow up. Teachers, especially those who have watched the children grow under their guidance, care deeply for them as well. They too hope that the hard work they have put in to train the children will help them lead independent and fulfilled lives. This Chinese feature writing project focuses on the special education sector in Singapore. Through interviews with teachers, principals, parents, students and other people involved in the sector, it aims to provide a balanced and deeper look into what goes on within this often overlooked area of education.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10356/59784

The deaf divide

Authors
Priscilla Kham, Tan Wen Hui Josephine, Tay Kai Ying Eileen & Tay Qiao Wei

Supervisor
Ms Hedwig Alfred

Year
2014

Abstract
An era is ending for Singapore’s deaf education. Students who need to sign no longer have a special environment to do so. The Singapore School for the Deaf, home to five decades of Deaf culture and history, is set to close in 2016. This comes after more than a decade of falling enrolment as more deaf children enter mainstream schools, with hearing aids and cochlear implants enabling them to speak. But amidst this phenomenon are dissenting voices. At the heart of the issue lies a debate between sign language and speaking. With speech, a deaf person is no longer seen as disabled in a society that prizes fitting in. But in this pursuit to integrate with the hearing world, sign language—touted by deaf advocates as crucial for cognitive development and identity building—is being set aside as the last resort.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10356/59930

Fishing for men: trafficking and slavery on the high seas

Authors
Danson Cheong Jingfu, Theodora Theresa D’cruz & Annabelle Liang Yanting

Supervisor
Ms Hedwig Alfred

Year
2014

Abstract
This is what modern day slavery looks like – men from impoverished Southeast Asian countries are promised lucrative jobs on the high seas, but they end up working on deep-sea fishing vessels. Human rights abuses are rife on these boats which catch high-value artisanal fish such as bluefin tuna and swordfish – some of which end up on Singapore’s dinner plates. These long-haul boats can remain at sea for three years, and the men are often subject to long working hours, physical abuse, and a lack of proper medical attention and nutrition. These men, from countries such as Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam, are trafficked onto boats that berth in Singapore and other ports overseas, and Singapore agencies are involved in their deployment. Combatting this cross-border problem in Singapore is difficult because trafficking is not outlawed in the country.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10356/59855

Parents in the classroom: schools must now cope with mums & dads who make their presence felt

Authors
Celine Chen Xueli, Lai Yee San Tami & Liao Xiangjun

Supervisor
Ms Hedwig Alfred

Year
2014

Abstract
Parents are now more curious about school matters, and schools have had to adapt to the needs and wants of this generation of parents. This means educators spend more time engaging and reaching out to parents on top of an already-heavy workload. This journalism feature looks beyond the common labels attached to parents’ behaviour, such as “competitive”, “kiasu” and “kancheong”, to examine what exactly about the education landscape of today is driving their actions, and how it is manifesting in schools.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10356/59910

Image Credit
Featured image GYPS P1 classroom by Flickr user Cassandra Turner. CC BY 2.0.

Beyond school hours: student care in Singapore

Authors
Chia Shu Fen Isabel, Sara Yap Soon Yen & Yang Yujian Calvin

Supervisor
Asst Prof Debbie Goh Pei Chin

Year
2014

Abstract
Beyond School Hours is a feature that uncovers the importance of student care in Singapore education. The demand for school-based and community-based student care centres (SCCs) providing care and supervision to school-going children has increased over the last few years. With a demand for more student care services, the feature exposes the business of SCCs as parents and operators fight for a share of the pie, exploring issues like the rise of school-based SCCs and the keen competition in the heartlands. It also sheds light on how student care has evolved in the market through minimal governmental involvement and the diversity of needs it addresses.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10356/59849