Average wait time for SPED school placement about six months: Desmond Lee
Associate Professor Jamus Lim, MP for Sengkang GRC, raised questions in Parliament on 25 September about waiting times and capacity expansion for Special Education (SPED) schools. Education Minister Desmond Lee said most children secure placement within six months, but delays may occur where vacancies are limited. MOE aims to raise total capacity to 10,000 places by 2030 through new schools and expansions.
- Average SPED school placement wait time is around six months, longer if vacancies are limited.
- MOE expanded SPED school capacity from 7,300 to 8,300 between 2022 and 2024.
- Total places to increase to about 10,000 by 2030 through new schools and staff recruitment efforts.
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.
Expansion of SPED school capacity
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.
Strengthening the SPED educator workforce
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.
This package includes enhanced salary guidelines and aims to attract and retain qualified teachers and teacher aides. It is part of broader efforts to improve professional development and career pathways within the SPED teaching community.
Minister Lee also reiterated MOE’s encouragement for more individuals to consider careers in special education, describing it as a “promising and purposeful” vocation.
