Enhancing Affordability and Quality of Special Education (SPED)
To reduce out-of-pocket expenses for families with children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), MOE will work closely with Social Service Agencies (SSAs) to lower monthly fees in nine SPED schools serving students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Multiple Disabilities (MD) charging higher fees by mid-2025. The nine schools are:
AWWA School @ Napiri
Eden School
Eden School (Campus 2)
Pathlight School
Rainbow Centre (Margaret Drive)
Rainbow Centre (Yishun Park)
Rainbow Centre (Admiral Hill)
St. Andrew's Autism School
St. Andrew's Mission School
Currently, about 50% of SPED school students pay similar fees to mainstream school students. SPED schools charging higher fees had previously reduced their fees to make it more affordable for families1. These nine SPED schools are expected to further reduce their fees by up to 60%, as the maximum monthly fees chargeable for Singaporean students will be reduced from $150 to $90. About 3,500 students stand to benefit from these changes, which will take effect by mid-2025. The fees will be determined by the schools, and will be communicated to parents when ready.
MOE is also committed to building a professional and competency-driven SPED teaching workforce that can meet the diverse needs of students with SEN. From this year, SPED teachers will have a wider range of professional development opportunities.
This includes extending MOE's Teacher Leaders Programme to SPED teacher-leaders to equip them with skills to innovate in the classroom and act as mentors for their less experienced teaching colleagues. Training in Mentoring and Coaching for Leadership Development will also be provided for Vice-Principals. Such opportunities can foster the exchange of ideas and knowledge between educators in SPED and mainstream schools.
MOE will work with SPED schools to strengthen school-based professional development to enable all SPED teachers to grow professionally. Each SPED school will also appoint a School Staff Developer to drive dedicated planning and implementation of professional development opportunities.
