Profile of Students Enrolled in Special Education Schools and Publication of Such Data

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Ong Hua Han, Nominated Member of Parliament

Question

To ask the Minister for Education in each of the years 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024 (a) what is the total number of students enrolled in Special Education (SPED) schools; (b) what is the breakdown in percentage of SPED school students who (i) are on the autism spectrum (ii) have intellectual disabilities (iii) have sensory disabilities (iv) have physical disabilities, and (v) have multiple disabilities, respectively; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider publishing such data at regular intervals in the future.

Response

1. The number of students enrolled in Special Education (SPED) schools in Singapore has increased gradually from 5,410 in 2009 to 7,818 in 2023, largely due to an increase in students reported with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This is consistent with the increase in the number of children diagnosed with ASD in other countries. The number of students reported with intellectual, sensory, and multiple disabilities has decreased over the same period.
2. The Ministry of Education will continue to monitor the demand for SPED school places, and work with the Social Service Agencies that run SPED schools to provide sufficient capacity for the different student profiles.