Allowing More Students with Moderate-to-severe Hearing Loss to Learn Alongside Those With No Hearing Loss
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Christopher de Souza’s inquiry on enabling more students with moderate-to-severe hearing loss to learn alongside peers in mainstream schools. Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing responded that over 90% of these students already attend mainstream schools, supported by Frequency Modulation systems and itinerant educational services. Designated schools offer specialized environments for students using either the oracy approach or Singapore Sign Language. Students in Special Education schools like Canossian School also take lessons with peers from Canossa Catholic Primary School. These existing policies and specialized resources promote an inclusive learning environment for the vast majority of students with hearing loss.
Transcript
15 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Education whether a larger number of students with moderate-to-severe hearing loss can learn alongside students who do not have hearing loss to promote an inclusive educational learning environment.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: As at May 2022, over 90% of students diagnosed by hospitals to have hearing loss, including those with moderate-to-severe hearing loss, are enrolled in our mainstream schools and learn alongside their peers.
The students' learning in mainstream schools is enabled by Frequency Modulation systems provided by the Ministry of Education (MOE) where needed. Students may also receive itinerant school-based educational support services provided by The Singapore Association for the Deaf to help them adapt to and access learning better.
Students may also learn alongside their peers in designated mainstream schools, which are resourced with staff trained to support them. Students who use the oracy approach can attend St Anthony's Canossian Secondary School or Outram Secondary School. Students who use Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) can attend the MOE Kindergarten @ Mayflower Primary School (MK@MF), Mayflower Primary School and Beatty Secondary School where they learn SgSL, as well as English Language and are supported by teachers and instructors who use SgSL.
A small number of students who require additional support are enrolled in Special Education schools, either at Lighthouse School, or at Canossian School, where students take most of their lessons together with peers at Canossa Catholic Primary School.