Special Education in Singapore
Introduction
The education of children with disabilities is provided in special education (SPED) schools. As at January 2009, there are 20 SPED schools run by Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) receiving funding from the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). The SPED schools run different programmes catering to distinct disability groups of children who are unable to benefit from mainstream schooling.
Special education is also available at other privately run schools and foreign system schools.
Aims
SPED schools provide customised educational programmes and training for different disability groups. The programmes are aimed at developing the potential of pupils and helping them to be independent, self-supporting and contributing members of society. Individualised Educational Plans (IEPs) are drawn up for all pupils. Besides receiving classroom instructions conducted by their teachers, pupils also receive help and training from paramedical professionals such as psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and social workers.
The general mission of SPED schools is to provide the best possible education and training to children with special needs so as to enable them to function optimally and integrate well into society.
Special Education: Education Path
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Pupils who are able, sit for the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). If successful, they leave SPED schools to continue their education in mainstream secondary schools. These pupils attend regular classes and follow the curriculum of mainstream schools. Special resource teachers are deployed to designated mainstream secondary schools to assist these pupils.
Hearing Impaired (HI) pupils who communicate using sign language, can opt to attend one of 2 designated secondary schools:
- Balestier Hill Secondary School
- Boon Lay Secondary School
Visually Handicapped (VH) pupils from the Singapore School for the Visually Handicapped (SSVH) who pass the PSLE can choose to attend one of the designated schools for the visually handicapped as listed below:
- Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School
- Bedok South Secondary School
- Clementi Woods Secondary School
- Dunearn Secondary School
The above schools have additional support including resource teachers to help visually handicapped pupils cope with the curriculum.
Pupils who are unable to continue their education in secondary schools will proceed to one of the training centres or workshops run by VWOs. Such training equips them with the necessary skills for employment. Those who are able are placed in open employment whilst those who require more supervision attend production sheltered workshops or work activity centres.
List of Special Education Schools
As at January 2009, there are 20 SPED schools run by Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs). The SPED schools run different programmes catering to distinct disability groups of children.
| School | Address | Contact Information | Disability Groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWWA School | 11 Lorong Napiri Singapore 547532 | Tel: (65) 6511 5280 Fax: (65) 6511 5281 awwaschool@awwa.org.sg | Multiple Disabilities; Autism |
| Canossian School | No.1 Sallim Road Singapore 387621 | Tel: (65) 6749 8971 Fax: (65) 6749 8976 admin@cshi.com | Hearing Impairment; Autism |
| Chaoyang School | 18 Ang Mo Kio Ave 9 Singapore 569767 | Tel: (65) 6456 6922 Fax: (65) 6456 2030 cys@apsn.org.sg | Intellectual Disability; Autism |
| Delta Senior School | 20 Delta Avenue Singapore 169832 | Tel: (65) 6276 3818 Fax: (65) 6276 5608 dss@apsn.org.sg | Intellectual Disability |
| Eden School | 101 Yuan Ching Road Singapore 618653 | Tel: (65) 6265 7400 Fax: (65) 6265 9400 enquiry@edenschool.edu.sg | Autism |
| Fernvale Gardens School | 7 Fernvale Road Singapore 797635 | Tel: (65) 6481 6697 Fax: (65) 6483 2631 fgs@minds.org.sg | Intellectual Disability; Autism |
| Grace Orchard School | 35 Boon Lay Avenue Singapore 649962 | Tel: (65) 6264 4600 Fax: (65) 6264 4655 admin@go.edu.sg | Intellectual Disability; Autism |
| Katong School | 900 New Upper Changi Road Singapore 467354 | Tel: (65) 6445 8027 Fax: (65) 6445 6313 ks@apsn.org.sg | Intellectual Disability |
| Lee Kong Chian Gardens School | 802 Margaret Drive Singapore 149311 | Tel: (65) 6473 8332 Fax: (65) 6473 4776 lgs@minds.org.sg | Intellectual Disability; Autism |
| Metta School | 30 Simei St 1 Singapore 529949 | Tel: (65) 6788 5800 Fax: (65) 6788 5507 enquiry@mettaschool.edu.sg | Intellectual Disability; Autism |
| Pathlight School | 5 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 Singapore 569739 | Tel: (65) 6459 9951 Fax: (65) 6459 3397 queries@pathlight.org.sg | Autism |
| Rainbow Centre - Margaret Drive School | 501 Margaret Drive Singapore 149306 | Tel: (65) 6472 7077 Fax: (65) 6475 9739 mdss@rainbowcentre.org.sg | Multiple Disabilities; Autism |
| Rainbow Centre - Yishun Park School | 15 Yishun Street 61 Singapore 768548 | Tel: (65) 6482 2592 Fax: (65) 6482 2593 rcbs@rainbowcentre.org.sg | Multiple Disabilities; Autism |
| Singapore School for the Deaf | 227 Mountbatten Road Singapore 397998 | Tel: (65) 6345 6765 Fax: (65) 6345 9095 admin@ssd.edu.sg | Hearing Impairment; Autism |
| Lighthouse School | 51 Toa Payoh Rise Singapore 298106 | Tel: (65) 6250 3755 Fax: (65) 6250 5348 ssvh@ssvh.edu.sg | Visual Impairment; Autism |
| Spastic Children’s Association School | Cerebral Palsy Centre, 65 Pasir Ris Drive 1 Singapore 519529 | Tel: (65) 6585 5639 Fax: (65) 6585 5635 spastic@pacific.net.sg | Physical Disability |
| St Andrew’s Autism School | 15 Guillemard Crescent, Singapore 399910 | Tel: (65) 6345 2377 Fax: (65) 6447 0717 | Autism |
| Tanglin School | 143 Alexandra Road Singapore 159924 | Tel: (65) 6475 1511 Fax: (65) 6472 0408 ts@apsn.org.sg | Intellectual Disability |
| Towner Gardens School | 1B Lengkong Lima Singapore 417557 | Tel: (65) 6446 2612 Fax: (65) 6243 7498 tgs@minds.org.sg | Intellectual Disability; Autism |
| Woodlands Gardens School | 30 Woodlands Ring Road #01-01 Singapore 737883 | Tel: (65) 6468 0566 Fax: (65) 6468 2142 wgs@minds.org.sg | Intellectual Disability; Autism |
Privately-run Special Education Schools
- Genesis School for Special Education
- Kits4Kids Special School
- Divinity Especial Needs Intervention Centre
- St. Clare School for Special Education
Foreign System Schools that provide Special Education
- Dover Court Preparatory School
Teaching in Special Education Schools
If you are interested to teach in a Special Education (SPED) school, you may contact the school directly. SPED teachers are employees of the SPED schools.
NIE offers the Diploma in Special Education (DISE). It is a one year full time programme and is offered only for teachers already teaching in SPED schools. The SPED schools take care of course expenses, and work out the corresponding service conditions. The school will advise regarding application procedures and dates.
