Singapore will open three new special education (SPED) schools for students with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability starting mid-2026. This expansion will increase the total number of SPED schools for this cohort from 13 to 16.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is partnering with APSN Education Services, the Autism Association, and St Andrew's Mission Hospital to establish these new facilities. One school, operated by APSN, will launch at an interim site in the northeast region in the latter half of 2026.
These additions are part of MOE's strategy to address growing demand for SPED places. The ministry projects supporting 30% more students with special education needs, reaching approximately 12,000 by the early 2030s.
In addition to new schools, three existing SPED schools will receive expanded campuses to accommodate more students. MINDS Fernvale Gardens School and MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens School will gain interim campuses in the east and central regions by mid-2026. MINDS Towner Gardens School will also move to a larger interim site in the east in 2027, with MINDS Woodlands Gardens School relocating to an expanded interim site in the north the same year.
Efforts are also in progress to secure permanent locations for several SPED schools serving diverse needs.