Hearing Loss and Inclusive Education

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Mr Christopher De Souza, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC

Question

To ask the Minister for Education whether a larger number of students with moderate-to-severe hearing loss can learn alongside students who do not have hearing loss to promote an inclusive educational learning environment.

Response

1. As at May 2022, over 90% of students diagnosed by hospitals to have hearing loss, including those with moderate-to-severe hearing loss, are enrolled in our mainstream schools and learn alongside their peers.
2. The students' learning in mainstream schools is enabled by Frequency Modulation systems provided by MOE where needed. Students may also receive itinerant school-based educational support services provided by The Singapore Association for the Deaf to help them adapt to and access learning better.
3. Students may also learn alongside their peers in designated mainstream schools, which are resourced with staff trained to support them. Students who use the oracy approach can attend St. Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School or Outram Secondary School. Students who use Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) can attend the MOE Kindergarten @ Mayflower Primary School (MK@MF), Mayflower Primary School and Beatty Secondary School where they learn SgSL as well as English Language and are supported by teachers and instructors who use SgSL.
4. A small number of students who require additional support are enrolled in SPED schools, either at Lighthouse School, or at Canossian School, where students take most of their lessons together with peers at Canossa Catholic Primary School.