22-07-2025
Forum: Efforts made to support well-being of students with special needs in mainstream schools
We thank Mr Yuanyou Gao for the letter '
More can be done for well-being of students with special needs ' (July 17) and for sharing his perspective as a parent of a child with autism.
In a recent reply to a Forum letter, '
Building a supportive, safe learning environment for all ' (July 19), we shared that our schools continue to make the efforts to implement a whole-of-school approach to create a nurturing environment that supports all learners. Preventive, educative and restorative measures are adopted to address bullying incidents.
We agree that supporting students with diverse learning needs is a shared responsibility in schools. Building expertise takes time – much like society's journey towards inclusion. Through daily interactions with students and collaborative work with school personnel such as school counsellors and special educational needs (SEN) officers, our teachers continue to hone their skills and develop the confidence to foster positive classroom and school cultures.
The adolescent years present unique challenges for all students, including students with SEN. During this period, the partnership between schools and parents is vital in providing effective support for our students.
Parent-teacher meetings and case conferences help develop strategies that can be implemented both at home and in school. This collaborative approach between parents and school personnel helps students develop essential social skills and self-advocacy strategies, creating a supportive environment that bridges school and home.
The Ministry of Education will continue to build up our efforts to support students with SEN, by working closely with schools, parents and the community so that our education system evolves and remains responsive to diverse learners' needs.
Dayna Chia
Divisional Director, Special Educational Needs Division
Ministry of Education
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