Waiting List and Enrolment Time for Special Education Schools Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Education for Special Education schools that support students with autism spectrum disorder, what is the current number of applicants waiting to be admitted to these schools and the waiting time for enrolment, with a breakdown for applicants with no intellectual impairment and those with intellectual impairment respectively.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) closely monitors the demand for Special Education (SPED) school places and the waiting time for enrolment. To address rising demand for places, seven new SPED schools for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have started since 2022, while an eighth SPED school will start operations in 2026. Four of these SPED schools serve students who have ASD with intellectual impairment, while the other four serve students who have ASD without intellectual impairment.

In the last two years, some students who have ASD with intellectual impairment commenced school after the school year started, mainly because the receiving schools needed more time to hire teachers. Currently, about 40 students who have ASD with intellectual impairment are waiting to commence Primary 1. MOE with work closely with the Social Service Agencies running the SPED schools to help them start school as soon as possible.

There are currently no students who have ASD without intellectual impairment waiting to commence Primary 1 in SPED schools.