Students with special needs will now have a chance to get some work experience. Fast-food chain McDonald's launched a work attachment programme on Monday in collaboration with Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS).

Under this programme, students will get hands-on experience working at various McDonald's outlets by learning how to pack condiments and clean dining areas, among other duties. Speaking at the launch at McDonald's Bedok Interchange this morning, vice president of MINDS Robin Chua said: "We need work attachment opportunities to help our students acquaint themselves to the realities of open employment. In such an environment, they are given access and insight into handling employer and customer expectations; something they cannot obtain within a classroom setting."

The students aged 16 to 18 years old will work for two to four weeks and will be sent to one of seven outlets near their schools. Teachers will also be attached to the restaurants to support their students throughout the programme.

The move is a continuation and expansion of the pilot scheme launched in August last year. Of the six students who participated in the pilot scheme, four have since graduated and found jobs in the service and food and beverage sectors. Some 23 students from four MINDS schools will join the programme this year with the first batch of students starting work on Wednesday.