(Singapore) SPED students increase from 7,300 to 8,300 in 2 yrs; 10,000 MORE by 2030

Sept 26, 2025, TOC: Average wait time for SPED school placement is six months, says Education Minister 

https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2025/09/26/average-wait-time-for-sped-school-placement-is-six-months-says-education-minister 

Children applying to enter Special Education (SPED) schools in Singapore typically wait six months for placement, with longer delays possible when vacancies are tight. The Ministry of Education plans to expand capacity by 2030.

On 25 September 2025, Associate Professor Jamus Lim, Member of Parliament for Sengkang GRC, raised questions in Parliament regarding the average waiting time for children to be placed in Special Education (SPED) schools in Singapore.

He also asked whether there were plans to increase SPED school places and what constraints the Ministry faced in expanding capacity.

In a written response, Minister for Education Desmond Lee stated that for students seeking Primary 1 enrolment in 2025, the average wait time from application to confirmation of placement in a SPED school is approximately six months.

However, the Minister acknowledged that the wait time may extend beyond this period in cases where an alternative school must be identified due to limited vacancies.

While the majority of SPED students begin school on the first day of the academic year, some are required to start later. This delay is typically due to the need for additional teacher recruitment and capacity expansion at individual schools.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) collaborates closely with Social Service Agencies (SSAs), which operate the SPED schools, to track both the availability of places and demand levels across the system.

From 2022 to 2024, MOE increased the number of SPED school places from 7,300 to 8,300. This growth was facilitated by the opening of seven new SPED schools over that period.

Looking ahead, further capacity expansion is planned. Between 2026 and 2030, the total number of SPED places is expected to rise to approximately 10,000.

This will be achieved through a combination of expanding existing schools and opening one additional new SPED school.

To support the sector’s growth, MOE continues to work with SSAs to strengthen the workforce pipeline for SPED educators. One key initiative is the SPED Teaching Profession: Journeys of Excellence Package 2.0, introduced in 2024. . . .