In the past decade, there has been research conducted in developed countries, e.g. US, Europe and Australia which have reviewed the support which is available for students with special educational needs (SEN) in post-secondary education settings. The literature reflects how such education settings have developed different ways of supporting students with SEN, and the barriers to providing support. (see References)

The purpose for conducting this piece of research is to conduct a needs analysis on the students with SEN studying in post-secondary educational institutions, specifically in Singapore, and the current support available for them. This is important as support for students with SEN in primary and secondary schools are increasingly more available, and hence more of them will begin to articulate to post-secondary institutions. There is a need for greater awareness of the difficulties faced by the students, and the aim of the research is to enable the institutions to develop better approaches and strategies to develop their capacity to support students with SEN.

The research questions are :

1. What are the Special Educational Needs (SEN) of students in the different post-secondary institutions (PSEIs) in Singapore?
2. What are the difficulties faced by students with SEN in PSEIs in Singapore?
3. What are the current supports available for students with SEN in PSEIs in Singapore?

The focus of the research will be on junior colleges (JCs)  who prepare students from age 16-19, for university entry, and the Institute of Education (ITE) that conducts vocational training for students 16-19 as well as adult learners. The target group of students that will be reviewed will be those who have entered these institutions from secondary schools, after they have completed their GCE O and N Levels.

This will also provide an opportunity to compare what is reported in the literature in other countries, to what is currently happening in Singapore, and to apply the learning from other countries, so that we can continue to support our students with SEN beyond our national primary and secondary schools.

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