SINGAPORE - Five special education (Sped) schools have started a new school-to-work transition programme that aims to give their students greater support to move on to the workplace.

Some 40 students in their graduating year are currently part of the programme. They are from Pathlight School, APSN Delta Senior School, Grace Orchard School, Metta School and Minds Woodlands Gardens School.

As part of the programme, schools identify students who have the potential to work. They are referred to SG Enable in the final year of school to identify post-school employment or training opportunities.

They also receive job training and support from a job coach at the workplace.

The two-year pilot, developed by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and agency SG Enable, will continue next year and is expected to be scaled up to more Sped schools in phases from 2016.

Ms Sim Ann, Minister of State for Education and Communications and Information, revealed this on Wednesday at the third Special Education Conference held at the Resorts World Convention Centre.

The programme will offer more training and work options for students who may not benefit from the existing vocational certification pathways, Ms Sim told educators at the conference.

"We want to play an active role in guiding schools in preparing students to be work-ready," she said.

Currently, one in four Sped graduates is employed successfully through vocational education programmes in Sped schools, said Ms Sim.

There are 20 Sped schools here catering to some 5,000 students aged seven to 18.