INCA Education around the world
Singapore : Organisation/control of education system
2.1.1 Control
2.1.2 Funding
2.1.3 Private sector education
2.1.4 SPECIAL PUBLICLY-FUNDED PROVISION WITHIN OR OUTSIDE MAINSTREAM EDUCATION
This information is intended to provide the background context of structure and control, within which the curriculum and assessment frameworks are implemented.
2.1 Organisation and control of system/structure
2.1.1 Control
See section 2.1.1 of the mainstream Singapore Archive.
2.1.2 Funding
See section 2.1.2 of the mainstream Singapore Archive.
2.1.3 Private sector education
See section 2.1.3 of the mainstream Singapore Archive.
2.1.4 SPECIAL PUBLICLY-FUNDED PROVISION WITHIN OR OUTSIDE MAINSTREAM EDUCATION
Types of provision
Students not included in ordinary mainstream education go to special education schools, known as SPED schools. SPED schools are set up for students of specific disability groups, as follows:
- schools for students with intellectual disability (ID)
- schools for students with an educational sub-normality (ESN),
- schools for students who have cerebral palsy
- schools for students with a hearing impairment (HI),
- schools for those with a visual handicap (VH) and
- schools for students who are multi-handicapped (MH).6
In addition to SPED schools, special educational needs are also provided for by a Specialised Pupil Programmes Branch (SPPB) (formed in April 1995), which offers a range of services to primary schools to assist schools in maximising the learning potential of students with learning difficulties.4
There is also a Gifted Education Programme (GEP), first implemented in 1984 by the Ministry of Education (MOE), in line with its policy to allow each child to learn at his or her own pace. This programme 'aims to equip students with the intellectual tools and attitudes necessary to cope with the challenges of a fast changing society. It also seeks to develop their abilities and values so that they will be in the forefront of change and progress, working for the betterment of society'.5
The GEP does not continue into upper secondary junior college. However, gifted students at this level are catered for by six programmes for able students with special areas of interest, as follows:
- Humanities Award Programme;
- Science Research Programme;
- Creative Arts Programme;
- Science Vision Programme;
- Languages Elective Programme;
- Humanities and Social Sciences Research Programme.5
Size of provision
In January 2004, there were 20 SPED schools in Singapore. Further information is available at:
http://www.moe.gov.sg/specialeducation/Introduction%202003.htm
Control/funding
SPED schools are funded by the Ministry of Education and the National Council of Social Services.3
Although registered as private schools under the terms of the Education Act, funding for SPED schools is as follows:
Funding is capped at four times the cost of mainstream, publicly-funded primary education. Of this:
- the Ministry of Education (MOE) funds the schools up to the normal cost of primary education, plus 50 per cent of any additional cost, up to a maximum of 2.5 times (or 62.5 per cent) the cost of mainstream, publicly-funded primary education, and
- the National Council of Social Services funds the remaining 1.5 times (or 37.5 per cent).6
