Forum: Do more for those with different learning needs
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The article “ Hear Me Out: Getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult left me feeling angry and betrayed
There have been many calls to relook the education system and class size in our schools, but another important aspect is the capability and capacity of our education system to provide a more supportive and empowering approach to students with different learning needs at all levels. As a First World country that takes pride in its education system, we cannot continue to neglect the needs and potential of neurodivergent learners with different learning needs.
Our education system needs to be more enlightened and equipped to recognise these learners, and be able to better support their learning and education in schools, as not all of them need to be in special education schools.
Going by global trends and statistics on the prevalence of the various learning conditions such as ADHD, mild autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, and borderline intellectual disability, just to name a few conditions that are in our mainstream schools, the numbers would be significant enough for us to take a more concerted effort to do better.
Imagine the mental health effect, number of lives impacted, and the potential lost in Singapore, where people are our only resource, if we do not adequately plug this gap.
Quek Hong Choon
