Three new SPED schools for students with autism and intellectual disability to open

The ministry said the number of students with ASD-ID is growing, and it is planning ahead to meet projected demand while ensuring schools are accessible across Singapore’s geographical spread.

Singapore currently has close to 9,000 SPED students, with those diagnosed with ASD-ID making up a significant proportion. 

The new measures announced on Tuesday are intended to support 30 per cent more students with special education needs, or about 12,000 students in the early 2030s.

At present, most students are placed in SPED schools within six months to a year of assessment, depending on their needs.

EXISTING SCHOOLS TO EXPAND

Three existing SPED schools will also get additional campuses to help meet demand.

The additional campuses of MINDS Fernvale Gardens School and MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens School will operate from interim sites in the east and central regions of Singapore from the second half of 2026.

From 2027, MINDS Towner Gardens School will gain an additional campus at an interim site in the east, while MINDS Woodlands Gardens School will relocate to a larger interim site, also in the north, the same year. 

Efforts are also underway to secure permanent sites for existing SPED schools catering to a range of disability types, said Dr Syed Harun. Among the schools in line for permanent premises are Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore School (West), Grace Orchard School and Maitri School.