Support for Students with Special Educational Needs in Singapore

1. Support for Students with Special Educational Needs in Singapore

2. Policy • Ministry of Education adopts a “Differentiated” and “Many Helping Hands” approach in supporting students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) MAINSTREAM SCHOOLS SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS ( MILD SEN) (MODERATE-SEVERE SEN) Increasing support, resources, community partnerships

3. Special Education • 20 Special Education (SPED) schools catering to students with moderate-severe Special Education Needs (SEN), including: • Mild Intellectual Disability, Moderate-Severe Intellectual Disability, ASD, Sensory Disabilities, Physical and Multiple Disabilities Metta School RC Yishun Park School

4. SPED schools in S’pore • Mild Intellectual Disability • APSN Chaoyang School • APSN Katong School • APSN Tanglin School • APSN Delta Senior School • Grace Orchard School • Metta School • ASD • Pathlight School • Eden School • St Andrew’s Autism School • Sensory Disabilities • Lighthouse School • Canossian School • Singapore School for the Deaf • Moderate-Severe Intellectual Disability • Lee Kong Chian Gardens School • Woodlands Gardens School • Towner Gardens School • Fernvale Gardens School • Physical and Multiple Disabilities • Rainbow Centre – Yishun Park School • Rainbow Centre – Margaret Drive School • AWWA School • Spastics Children’s Association School

5. Educational Pathways • Students with Mild SEN • University, polytechnic, mainstream vocational schools leading to open employment • Students with Moderate-Severe SEN • SPED vocational schools leading to open/ supported/ sheltered employment OPEN EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTED/SHELTERED EMPLOYMENT (MILD-MODERATE SEN) (MODERATE-SEVERE SEN) Increasing support, resources, community partnerships

6. Enhancing Employment Outcomes for Students with Mild Intellectual Disability • Prior to 2007 • Uneven standards in vocational education in SPED schools • No clear employment pathways • 2007-9 • Prototyping of vocational certification in 2 SPED schools • Partnership with 2 industry organisations • Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) • From 2010 • 2 SPED schools offering nationally accredited vocational training and certification from 16-21 yr

7. Outcomes • From 2010: • 64 % of students with Mild ID attained nationally recognized vocational certification in key industries • 61 % secured jobs in the open employment market • 60 % sustained jobs “Valued in the Workforce, Active in Society”

8. Impact • Greater independence and less burden on families and society • SPED students a potential pool of labor contributing to the S’pore workforce • Increased competencies and aspirations of teachers • Enhanced corporate social responsibility among employers

9. Impact Student Testimonial “I can now bake four flavours of cookies, four types of muffins, tartlets as well as puddings. I'm learning to make tiramisu and other new textures." “I also learnt how to work together as a team, with different types of people.” - Steven Jackson, Commis Cook at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Quote From a Parent “When I hear people praising him and when I see him reporting to work early and being a responsible worker at the hotel it makes me extremely proud of him” - Parent of Azrin, who is working at Hilton Hotel Quote from Employer “I am very proud of Azrin. Not only is he hands-on, he is also sociable and blends well with the staff at Work” - Miss Salma, Azrin’s supervisor at Hilton Hotel

10. Success Factors External Partners SPED Schools • Structured and multiple work experiences • Multi-agency collaboration • Partnerships with employers Vocational Guidance Vocational Assessment VALUED IN THE WORKFORCE Soft Skills Hard Skills Authentic Work Experience Employers

11. Moving forward • Greater diversity of work experience and jobs • Greater engagement of employers • Enhance job supports for PWDs • Enhance school capability and manpower

12. Copyright © Ministry of Education, Singapore. Thank You