Special training courses to be held for teachers

THE Education Ministry plans to hold special training courses for teachers of special needs students at the kindergarten and nursery level to ensure that they are not left behind.

Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said such courses will be held by all government and private institutions of early education in the country.

She said the ministry had decided to hold the courses but a study would be done on its implementation.

“We will conduct a study and ministry officials will help prepare the module and suitable training courses for the teaching force in public and private kindergartens.

“We also plan to make it a requirement for kindergarten operators and teachers to undergo the training,” she said after closing the Seventh National Children Early Therapy Conference.

Teo said the ministry would look at the education system in China where priority is given to special education at an early stage, divided into three programmes.

These are the Special Education and Public Schools Programme; Special Educational Programme, and Comprehensive Special Education Programme.

She added that the ministry was also planning to upgrade the facilities in special education schools including in kindergartens with special students.