Data on Requests for and Approval Rates of Examination and Non-examination Access Arrangements Made by SEN Students in Mainstream Schools

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Education (a) for each of the past five years, what is the number of requests for examination and non-examination access arrangements in classrooms made by students with special educational needs in mainstream schools; (b) of these, what proportion of such requests is successful; and (c) whether a standardised framework exists for assessing such access arrangement requests.

Mr Desmond Lee: For national examinations, the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board approves Access Arrangements (AA) to help students with physical or learning disabilities demonstrate their knowledge and skills without compromising assessment objectives.

In the last five years, a total of about 6,000 to 7,000 AA applications were submitted for the Primary School Leaving Examinations, and the General Certificate of Education "N", "O" and "A" level examinations each year, of which 99% were approved.

All AA applications for national examinations are submitted through the schools and require supporting documents, such as medical documents from qualified professionals. When evaluating these applications, the primary considerations are the student's diagnosed conditions and the school's understanding of how the student typically learns and functions in the classroom.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) does not track the number of AA applications for school-based assessments. Schools decide on these applications based on their understanding of students' educational needs and the nature of the assessment.

For accommodations in non-assessment context, such as the use of assistive devices in learning or the modification of activities during Co-Curricular Activities, they are determined at the school level and are not referred to as AA. MOE does not track these accommodations.