Waiting Time for Place in Special Student Care Centres with Before and After School Care Services

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is the average waiting time for a child to secure a place in a Special Student Care Centre (SSCC) that provides before and after school care services for children with special needs; and (b) whether the Ministry can provide an update on the plan to set up more SSCCs.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: At present, there are eight Special Student Care Centres (SSCCs). Of students enrolled into SSCCs over the past year, the average waiting time was about eight months.

SSCCs may grant priority admission to students who need a placement urgently, such as those without other caregiving arrangements and from lower-income households. Where needed, SSCCs would work with corresponding Special Education (SPED) schools to engage the students and families. SG Enable also provides information to families on alternative options, such as other SSCCs with vacancies, and link them to caregiver support resources.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) works with the Social Service Agencies and SG Enable to identify areas where there is demand for SSCC services. We plan to set up more SSCCs in tandem with the Ministry of Education's plan to build more SPED schools, to provide greater convenience to families with children with special needs who require SSCC services. MSF will continue to engage stakeholders, including parents and caregivers of children with special needs, to gather feedback and improve the accessibility of SSCC services.