Press Releases
MOE Provides More Support for Special Education Educators and Schools
To further boost the development of Special Education (SPED) schools, MOE will be providing scholarships and sponsorships for the professional development of SPED staff. In addition, funding will be given to each SPED school to employ an Administration Manager. The new measures aim to further improve the quality of education in SPED schools to benefit their students.
New Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships for SPED Educators
MOE will offer scholarships to SPED school principals and key personnel such as Heads of Departments (HODs) to enhance their professional expertise from 2011. Up to 10 local scholarships would be offered yearly to non-graduate principals and HODs to pursue degree-level training in Special Education. In addition, up to two postgraduate scholarships would be offered yearly to Principals and key personnel to pursue Masters degrees either locally or overseas in relevant areas of specialization.
Sponsorship of Diploma Training for SPED School Psychologists
To deepen the professional expertise of the SPED school psychologists, MOE will provide sponsorships for them to attend the in-service part-time Diploma in Educational Psychology offered at National Institute of Education, NIE. This Diploma is a tripartite collaboration between MOE, NIE and the University College London. It provides the SPED psychologists with the necessary skills and competencies to supplement the work of Educational Psychologists in providing quality psychological assessments and advice for SPED students.
New Post of Administration Manager for SPED Schools
To enhance SPED schools’ administrative capacity, an Administration Manager position will be included in the staffing model of SPED schools. The Manager will provide essential support to the school leaders and ensure that effective administrative systems are in place to support teachers. MOE will provide full funding for every SPED school to have an Administration Manager from 2010.
SPED Learning Day for Teachers
The inaugural SPED Learning Day organised jointly by SPED schools and MOE was held together with the MOE-NCSS SPED Awards Ceremony. The Themed ‘Innovate, Inspire, Impact’, the Learning Day aims to inspire the teachers to persevere in their profession to guide each and every child with special needs. It was also a platform for the sharing of innovative practices among 1,200 teachers, supervisors, principals and para-professionals such as psychologists working in the SPED schools.