Children with special needs to be part of Compulsory Education Act: SPH

Starting from 2019, children with moderate to severe special needs will need to attend publicly-funded schools, just like all other children in Singapore. (StraitsTimes)

The move to extend the Compulsory Education Act to this group of children will take effect from the Primary 1 cohort three years from now. With the change, they will be required to attend any of the 20 government-funded special education (Sped) schools here, unless they apply for exemption.

Minister for Education (Schools) Ng Chee Meng announced the new policy on Friday morning (Nov 4) at the annual Sped conference, saying: “This is indeed an important milestone in Singapore’s continuing drive towards national inclusiveness. “I am heartened to hear that nearly all children with special needs are receiving formal primary education in government-funded schools, either mainstream or Sped.”

He noted the progress made in the Sped sector in the areas of curriculum, teaching and learning, professional development for teachers and infrastructure. “It is therefore timely to include our children with special educational needs within the framework established by the Compulsory Education Act. This is a reaffirmation that every child matters, regardless of his or her learning challenges,” he said.