Ministry of Education Increases Support for Special Education Institutions
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) will provide additional manpower funding to special education (SPED) schools in 2024, marking the second tranche of support since the first funding increase was implemented in 2021. This initiative aims to enhance the salaries and career progression of educators in these schools.
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing addressed the funding increase in Parliament on October 5, responding to questions from Member of Parliament Denise Phua regarding salary scales for educators in mainstream, preschool, and SPED schools. Chan confirmed that MOE regularly reviews salary adjustments to ensure they remain competitive with market standards.
Ensuring Competitive Salaries for Educators
Chan explained that salaries for MOE staff, including those in SPED schools, are periodically reviewed in consultation with the Public Service Division. This review process considers the salary gap between civil service officers and the wider market. The most recent adjustment was made in October 2022, when salaries for 35,000 education officers, 1,600 allied educators, and 800 MOE Kindergarten educators were increased by 5 to 10 percent.
In response to concerns raised by Phua about the staged announcement of salary changes, Chan explained that salary reviews are conducted in stages to ensure that the adjustments across various professions are fair and aligned with market benchmarks.
Support for SPED Educators and Other Staff
Chan noted that SPED schools, which are managed by social service agencies (SSAs), receive full funding from MOE, but these agencies have significant autonomy in human resource management, including staff compensation. The ministry is working closely with SSAs to ensure that educators’ salaries in SPED schools remain competitive through periodic reviews. The last salary review for SPED educators was conducted in 2020, with another round scheduled for 2024.
For non-educator staff in SPED schools, such as psychologists, Chan confirmed that SSAs refer to the National Council of Social Service’s annual salary guidelines.
Ongoing Efforts to Strengthen Early Childhood Education Salaries
Chan also highlighted that the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is conducting a salary review for early childhood educators in government-supported preschools, aiming to align salaries with professional skills and contributions. This review, set to be completed by the end of 2022, will result in salary adjustments beginning in 2023.
