Small class size more beneficial for students with special learning needs

We are a group of graduating secondary school students (three of us) from the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS).

From our experience in school and in DAS, we consider it advantageous for class sizes to be smaller.

We recall that Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Leon Perera had proposed late last year that there be a large-scale study to evaluate the advantages of small class sizes in schools.

In 2016, the average form class size in primary schools is 33, while that in secondary schools was 34.

When classes are small, they tend to be more beneficial for students. They allow us to receive the attention and help we need from our teachers. There would be less disturbances, compared to a larger class where the teacher would have to attend to more students.

The learning environment is better and there are more chances to voice our opinions, and this leads to better results.

As students with dyslexia, we hope that a study would be done.

In some schools, students with different learning needs have already been placed in smaller classes. From anecdotal experience, such arrangements help to improve their attention span.

We recognise that small classes come at a cost. There could be a lack of qualified teachers if small classes were implemented nationwide and there would be a need for more teachers to serve smaller groups. More classrooms may also need to be reconfigured or constructed.

However, we believe that the benefits would outweigh the costs. Getting more personalised attention and help is crucial for learning, especially for those with special needs.

With the demographic changes happening here, and schools already being merged due to a decline in student population, we believe that this is the right juncture for schools to work towards providing smaller classes at both primary and secondary levels. Conducting the pilot research would be a first step.