Special Education in General Teacher Education Programs in Singapore

Overview & Synopsis

In Singapore, special education has traditionally been perceived as distinct from general education. Students with learning and behavioral difficulties in general education classrooms are often neglected. Typically, this is due to the fact that many general education teachers lack the competencies required to work with students with diverse learning needs. The purpose of this paper is to discuss three misguided notions about teacher education in Singapore and the impact of these widely held beliefs, ultimately to encourage teacher educators in Singapore and elsewhere to re-examine how they prepare teachers to serve students with diverse learning needs. An in-service training program designed to help general education teachers work with students with disabilities in Singapore is also briefly described. (Contains 1 table.)