Inclusion of Students with Special Educational Needs in Singapore

Abstract

The past two decades have witnessed much progress towards the development of inclusion for students with special educational needs (SEN) in Singapore. There are now far more students with SEN enrolled in mainstream schools compared with numbers in special education schools. This chapter provides a contextual understanding of how the inclusion of students with SEN within mainstream schools has become a national educational agenda, with government initiatives setting directions for change and teacher education playing a supportive role. Relevant literature and educational research associated with inclusion in Singapore are reviewed to provide insights into its state of inclusion. This chapter also provides an overview of the implementation of inclusion in mainstream schools and how this is supported through school-based structures and professional development. This chapter concludes with discussing key issues, challenges and recommendations for future research that can affect the advancement of inclusion in Singapore.KeywordsInclusionProfessional developmentSingaporeSpecial educational needsTeacher educationTeachers