3 teachers and 4 schools recognised for contributions in special education

The Straits Times
Monday, Oct 31, 2016

Three Special Education (SPED) teachers and four SPED schools have been recognised for their outstanding contributions in educating students with special needs, according to a joint press release by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) on Monday (Oct 31).

This is the eighth year that the awards are being presented.

Three out of 156 nominated teachers received the MOE-NCSS Outstanding SPED Teacher Award (OSTA). They are Ms Tay Wan Ting from APSN Katong School, Madam Noriytah Sani from AWWA School and Ms Esther Kwan Huey Chien from Grace Orchard School.

The OSTA winners were selected by a panel which comprised representatives from MOE, NCSS and partners in special education, the statement said.

Four out of 16 nominated schools were presented with the MOE-NCSS Innovation Award in recognition of their innovations to enhance students' learning. They are APSN Delta Senior School, Eden School, Metta School and Rainbow Centre - Yishun Park School. The nominated projects showed the innovative and creative use of teaching and learning strategies and resources in engaging students in their learning.

Two SPED teachers will also receive the 2016 MOE Masters Scholarship in Special Education and will be pursuing their Master of Education (Special Education) at the National Institute of Education (NIE), said MOE in another press release on Monday (Oct 31).

They are Madam Noraisha Mohamed from AWWA School and Madam Nur Faezah Abdul Rahman from Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore School.

The MOE Masters Scholarship in Special Education was started in 2011 to provide professional upgrading opportunities through postgraduate studies to SPED educators. The scholarship is open to registered Singaporean SPED teachers who have served at least five years in SPED schools.

The scholarship recipients will be acknowledged at the biennial SPED Conference on Friday (Nov 4).