It is heartening to see active and positive steps being taken by the Government to promote inclusiveness for individuals with special needs.

However, I have doubts about including children with moderate to severe special needs under the Compulsory Education Act ("School a must for special needs children"; last Saturday).

Compulsory Education aims to give children a common core of knowledge and a common educational experience.

Is it right to impose a common core of knowledge on a group of individuals that is so inherently different in the first place?

This imposed normalcy on special needs children may not necessarily be beneficial for them, especially when mainstream students receiving the same curriculum set a preconceived standard in this education system.

But, despite these points of contention, I do acknowledge that this policy is beneficial.

Education is integral to the development of a child, and making it compulsory for children with special needs is a huge step forward in helping to improve their mental and social well-being.

Perhaps the Compulsory Education policy could be revised to better cater to these communities.

Rachel Yeo Yun Jie (Miss)