Primary school students dyslexia programme
The Education Ministry (MOE) is beefing up the special education sector to improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of special education (SPED).
The ministry is piloting a S$3.6 million school-based dyslexia programme in 20 primary schools.
The programme is for Primary 3 students who have been identified to have dyslexia by the end of Primary 2.
The objective is to help these students read at the same level as their peers by the end of Primary 4.
If the pilot is successful, MOE will consider expanding the programme in phases to other schools.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary Sim Ann also unveiled in Parliament today, plans to expand training opportunities for SPED teachers and streamlining the application process for SPED schools.
She added that the application process for SPED schools will be streamlined by October so that parents need not make multiple applications to different SPED schools.
A newly set up Multi-Agency Advisory Panel, comprising specialists and professionals from government agencies and SPED schools, will develop a standard application process for all 20 SPED schools.
It will facilitate admission for children with less straightforward learning profiles into the appropriate SPED school.
The ministry is also raising the household income ceiling of the SPED Financial Assistance Scheme from S$1,500 to S$2,500.
It will also use a per capita income of S$625 as a parallel assessment criterion.
This is expected to benefit about 1,500 SPED students, up from 600 previously.
The ministry will also extend the annual top-up grants to SPED schools for the next three years, so that they have the resources to provide additional assistance, such as transport subsidies, to needy students.
In terms of raising the quality of education in SPED schools, Ms Sim said the ministry is exploring the possibility of working with overseas partners to offer SPED undergraduate degree programmes for those training to be SPED teachers.
Currently, teachers training to join SPED schools have to undergo a one-year diploma or post-graduate diploma course at the National Institute of Education (NIE). MOE also offers scholarships to SPED teachers to pursue Masters degrees at both and overseas universities.
Ms Sim also acknowledged that the ministry needs to attract and retain able staff so that expertise and knowledge can be continually built up.
She said MOE will support the National Council of Social Services and voluntary welfare organisations in reviewing salaries in SPED schools.
Ms Sim added that the ministry is also strengthening curriculum development in SPED schools. It is doing so through the draft Curriculum Framework for SPED Schools launched at the SPED Conference last November.
MOE is working towards building an inclusive society by integrating children with special needs into society.
Ms Sim said it will do so by expanding satellite partnerships with mainstream schools.
For example, students from MacPherson Primary School and hearing-impaired students learn alongside one another in academic and non-academic activities.
In addition, Ms Sim said the ministry will do more to prepare SPED students for future employment, in line with Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam's announcement to extend the Special Employment Credit for SPED graduates.
She said the ministry will place greater emphasis on vocational pathways that lead to nationally recognised certification for students who can access open employment.
More school-based student care centres open
The Education Ministry will be increasing the number of school-based student care centres over the next two years.
The centres offer after-school pastoral care and a structured environment for students from low-income families to support their learning.
By 2014, there will be 70 school-based centres, up from the current 57 primary schools and two special education schools that currently provide these services.
Schools which do not have student centres can tap on the services offered by similar organisations in their community.
Enrolment fees for the school-based centres average S$230 a month before subsidies.
MOE also aims to raise the quality of services offered by the centres by requiring schools to better coordinate their programmes with those run by the centres.
While the centre's programmes are run by the operators, the school's Student Development or Student Welfare departments will monitor and guide the design of the programmes.
Schools will also implement school-level intervention programmes for students enrolled in the centres.
Allied Educators will also monitor the development of the students and where required, they will also work with the Community Development Councils, self-help groups and family service centres to identify and deal with family-related problems so that the students can focus on learning in school.
Besides providing learning support, MOE is also increasing financial assistance to students from lower-income families.
As announced in the Budget speech, the ministry's Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) will be available to families with a gross monthly income of up to S$2,500, instead of the current S$1,500.
Students will also be eligible for financial aid if their per capita household income is S$625 a month or less.
With these changes, another 40,000 students are expected to benefit, doubling the total number of beneficiaries to about 80,000 students in government and government-aided schools.
Those in independent schools may also take advantage of the new per capita income criterion for the Independent School Bursary.
MOE will also triple the annual funding allocated to the School Breakfast Programme, from S$4 million to S$12 million.
The programme provides breakfast vouchers to primary school recipients of the FAS, and ensures they don't start their day on an empty stomach.
More money has also be allocated to school committees for programmes aimed at helping low-income students.
"Taken together, the whole support package to lower-income families can be quite substantial and would relieve some burden from low-income families. It is not just about money, but an integrated approach, addressing financial, socio-emotional and learning support, in partnership with parents and the broader community," said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat.
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