Special needs students to get more customised training pathways upon graduation

SINGAPORE — More customised training pathways will be designed for special needs students upon graduation from school to provide more training and work options, announced Education Minister Heng Swee Keat at the official opening of the Association for Persons with Special Needs’ (APSN) new Delta Senior School today (April 15).

A school-to-work transition programme will then be developed through a multi-agency working committee from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social and Family Development, SG Enable and Special Education (SPED) schools here, added Mr Heng.

“The idea is to provide customised job opportunities and training that are designed based on the students’ diverse profiles and needs,” he said.

The two-year pilot programme will be offered at a few SPED schools starting this year, serving students with different disability profiles. It will be available to more SPED schools from 2016.

Mr Heng added that the programme will begin in a student’s final year of school and continue after he or she graduates from school and takes on a job.

The Delta Senior School’s new campus at Choa Chu Kang boasts additional classrooms and vocational training facilities such as industrial kitchens and mock-ups of work sites such as a Giant supermarket.

The post-secondary school offers vocational training in areas such as Food and Beverage Operations and Culinary Arts among other courses.