School-to-Work Transition: Support for Students with Moderate-to-Severe Special Educational Needs in Singapore

Abstract

Students approaching the end of their postsecondary schooling are con- fronted with important transition choices. One major consideration is employment. Preparation for transition is particularly critical for students with disabilities, given the current competitive labour market in Singapore. This chapter describes a collab- oration between MOE and SG Enable, an agency dedicated to empowering persons with disabilities, on a school-to-work pilot programme. The programme embod- ies an ‘individual transition planning process’ (ITP), a ‘student vocational profiling tool’ (SVP) and a ‘group internship model’. The authors describe the collaboration needed between school, teachers and employers in implementing the programme. The chapter concludes with an evaluation of this school-to-work pilot programme to consider the value that it brought to different stakeholders—parents, students, teachers and employers. Suggestions are then made for refining and extending the programme in Singapore