Singapore’s education system is ill-equipped to support children with special needs and more needs to be done by the Ministry of Education to achieve an inclusive system, found a recent survey by Lien Foundation.
To work towards an inclusive system, 57% of respondents said MOE should ensure “better allocation of resources and fairer chances” for children with special needs.
Most professionals also expounded the benefits of having an inclusive education system, though there are several barriers to establishing the culture in mainstream schools.
Eight in 10 professionals surveyed think that an inclusive education plays a critical role in creating an inclusive society.
A genuinely inclusive education means all children with and without special needs are welcome and well-supported to learn and participate in a non-segregated environment, with the aim of achieving their full potential.
Over half of respondents believe such a system will benefit all children, with only 20% saying it will have more benefits for those with special needs.
However, most professionals felt that there are many barriers to an inclusive education.
The top three being a lack of resources for mainstream school teachers to attend to children with special needs, an education system that places high emphasis on standardised assessments and insufficiently-trained mainstream teachers.
As for professionals who work with young children with special needs, challenges abound.
The top challenge being quick burnout. This is followed by unattractive salary and benefits, as well as manpower shortage in the sector due to growing demands.
On a positive note, two-thirds of professionals are satisfied with their work, and eight in 10 feel that they are making a difference in the lives of special-needs children.
“We can’t change the nature of the job, but we can give more resources and necessary training to support their passion,” said June Tham-Toh, co-chair of the Early Intervention Conference 2018.
“Without competent and motivated professionals in service, the learning outcomes of children will be adversely impacted.