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Strengthening Leadership Development and Deepening Expertise in Special Education

Published Date: 03 October 2024 01:00 PM

News Press Releases

1. To enhance the quality of Special Education (SPED), the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Social Service Agencies (SSAs) which run SPED schools will introduce a SPED Leadership Development Programme (LDP) and establish SPED Communities of Practice (COP). These initiatives aim to cultivate a strong pipeline of school leaders and deepen disability knowledge across the sector respectively.

SPED Leadership Development Programme

2. Effective leadership is key to strengthening and maintaining quality teaching and learning in SPED schools. SPED school leaders oversee all aspects of school operations, including translating the national SPED syllabuses to the school's context to help students attain the desired outcomes1 of SPED in living, learning and working.

3. The LDP, which will be introduced in 2025, will provide a structured process for SPED schools to work with MOE to identify, develop and retain potential leaders from the SPED teaching fraternity. It will build on existing efforts of SPED schools to identify educators with leadership potential and provide them with additional developmental opportunities to grow in their leadership competencies.

4. Under the programme, teachers will have exposure to different settings, such as other SPED schools or agencies serving Persons with Disabilities, which will allow them to grow their leadership competencies. They will have opportunities to be mentored by experienced leaders and be involved in sector-wide projects and MOE leadership milestone programmes2. These arrangements will build a strong and sustainable leadership pipeline to meet the growing demands of the expanding SPED sector3.

Formation of SPED Communities of Practice

5. Over the years, SSAs and SPED schools have developed specialised expertise in the disability profiles they serve. As the SPED sector continues to expand and evolve, there is a need to deepen this expertise as well as to spread the knowledge built up by the SSAs and SPED schools.

6. Therefore, MOE will work with SSAs to set up SPED COPs, which may comprise SPED educators, SSA representatives and professionals in the sector, to foster professional collaboration and share best practices. These COPs will focus on issues related to educating students with specific disabilities and work towards shared goals. This include conducting workshops, producing research papers or developing new practices and resources for the benefit of the SPED sector.

7. The SPED COPs will be set up progressively. By end-2024, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore will lead the inaugural SPED COP for Multiple Disabilities (MD)4, together with professionals from other SSAs that serve students with MD5. The MD COP will draw on the SSAs' longstanding experience and knowledge in serving students with MD, bringing diverse professionals, including allied professionals, together to address common issues of interest in meeting the learning needs of students with MD.

8. SPED COPs for other disability profiles such as autism will be introduced from 2025 onwards.

9. MOE will continue to work with SSAs and SPED schools to build a competent and professional SPED teaching force, to provide quality education for our SPED students.

Annex


Footnotes

  1. The SPED desired outcomes are defined holistically and functionally in three broad areas of (i) Living independently and with dignity, (ii) Learning continuously throughout the lifespan and (iii) Working meaningfully and productively.

  2. These programmes are the Leadership and Management Programme and Management and Leadership in Schools.

  3. There will be 28 government and community-funded SPED schools by the 2030s, up from 25 currently.

  4. Students with MD have at least two impairments across a range of sensory, cognitive and physical impairments, and may have accompanying medical issues.

  5. Rainbow Centre and AWWA also run schools that serve students with MD. These schools are Rainbow Centre Margaret Drive School, Rainbow Centre Yishun Park School and AWWA School @ Napiri.