Pathlight School

Pathlight School is a special school for high-functioning children with autism, located in Ang Mo Kio, Singapore.[1] Founded in 2004, it is run by the non-profit Autism Resource Centre, and comprises one half of the national educational provision for autistic children. The school coaches students in social and life skills, teaches them mainstream curriculum subjects and prepares them for employment, in an autism friendly environment. With more than 1000 pupils enrolled, the school has been noted for its achievements in special education in Singapore.

Pathlight School
Pathlight School Campus 1 in 2011
Address
5 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10

569739

Singapore
Information
TypeSpecial education Public education school
EstablishedJanuary 2004 (2004-01)
School districtCentral
ChairmanMr Kang Puay Seng
PrincipalMs Linda Kho Ai Ling
Age7 to 18 - 21
Enrolment1770 (January 2021)
SloganThe Learning Journey (2004–2009)
Where lives are transformed (2010–present)
Websitewww.pathlight.org.sg

History

In 2003, the Autism Resource Centre (ARC) launched a project to provide comprehensive support for autistic Singaporeans, which included plans to set up the first autism-focused special school in Singapore. The ARC collaborated with the Rainbow Centre over a period of five months to renovate the temporary campus, recruit school staff, decide on the school values and develop the school programmes.[2] After opening in January 2004 with 10 teachers and 41 students,[3] Pathlight School conducted charity walks, merchandise sales and other events to raise funds for the introduction of more programmes for an expanding intake.[4] In 2007, two teachers from Pathlight School won the inaugural Most Outstanding Special Education Teacher Award and Most Innovative Special Education Teacher Award, given by the Singaporean Ministry of Education and National Council of Social Service.[5] In 2009, the Autism Association of Singapore launched a second autism-focused special school, Eden School, and the two schools formed a partnership.[6] The following year, Pathlight School moved to its permanent campus and announced plans to develop student internship programmes,[5] build an information technology centre, and set up a lifelong learning club for alumni.[3]

Campus

The permanent campus of Pathlight School at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, which was constructed by W Architects and cost S$34 million to build, spans 1.6 hectares (0.016 km2; 0.0062 sq mi). Its facilities include 45 classrooms, four computer labs, three courtyards, an industrial kitchen and a multi-purpose area, as well as special art, music and design rooms.[3][7] The campus was designed to offer students "dignity" and an autism friendly environment. For example, the walls and floors have a simple colour scheme, to avoid triggering sensory overload, while the taps in the canteen are slightly different from each other to help students learn to adopt less rigid routines.[7] Due to limited facilities, some academic lessons, known as satellite classes, are conducted by Pathlight teachers at nearby mainstream schools, including Mayflower Secondary School, Peirce Secondary School, and Yio Chu Kang Secondary School.

Campus 2 Annex building was formerly used by Chong Boon Secondary School (merged with Yio Chu Kang Secondary School)

As of 2012, they introduced two campuses as Primary 1 to 4 and Vocational Track were in Campus 1 while Primary 5 to 6 and Secondary School were in Campus 2.

In 2013, Primary 4 was moved to Campus 2 and in 2015 the Primary 3 were moved to Campus 2 and for Secondary School moved to Campus 1. Satellite schools assigned tend to vary year by year thus affecting integration. In 2018, Primary 6, Secondary and Track V moved to Campus 2 Annex and in 2020 the Primary 2 split into Campus 1 and 2 Main and Primary 5 moved to Campus 2 Annex.

Campus Cohort (levels)
Campus 1 Primary 1 and 2
Campus 2 Primary 2 to 6, Secondary School and Vocational Track

Students in Secondary School go to mainstream schools for lessons. Below is the list for 2021

Level Transit to
Secondary 1 and Secondary 3 Express Peirce Secondary School
Secondary 2 Mayflower Secondary School
Secondary 3 Normal Academic and Normal Technical Yio Chu Kang Secondary School
Secondary 4 Express, Secondary 4B Normal Technical and Secondary 5 Peirce Secondary School

Programmes

Unlike most special schools in Singapore, which place little emphasis on academics, Pathlight School uses the same academic curriculum as mainstream primary and secondary schools. The sole exception is that mother tongue lessons are replaced with classes covering social and life skills.[8] The school accommodates the needs of students with smaller class sizes, staff trained to handle autistic children,[9] more visual teaching methods, more predictable environments and individual education plans for each student.[10][11] Satellite classes and special events give students regular opportunities to interact with neurotypical (non-autistic) peers from mainstream schools;[3] exceptional students are allowed to attend classes with mainstream students for some subjects.[12] To prepare students for employment, Pathlight School runs computing courses,[13] a design studio and a cafe staffed by students.[5][9] The school also produces book compilations of thoughts written by students, conducts exhibitions of student artwork and sells merchandise made by students, to help students develop useful skills, raise funds for the school and raise awareness of autism.[7][9][14] In addition, Pathlight School has hosted autism events such as the WeCAN Learning Congress 2010, where over 20 international experts shared their best practices in autism care with about 560 delegates.[15]

Students

As of 2010, Pathlight School had an enrolment of over 500 students,[3] of whom about 40% had their school fees of S$500 subsidised.[7][8] The school caters to students with autism aged 6 to 18, who are able to access the mainstream curriculum because they are high-functioning, but would have difficulty learning in a mainstream school.[9] Most students take mainstream national examinations, such as the PSLE and O Levels, with results comparable to students from mainstream schools,[10][11] and some enter mainstream tertiary institutions.[12] About 10% of students take a vocational track and may transfer to Eden School,[3][6] which caters to lower-functioning autistic children and focuses on vocational training.[3][6] Students from Pathlight School have participated in—and won—national competitions such as the National Youth Business Challenge 2010.[16]

In 2015, the student enrolment increased to 1,000 students, with 1,074 students in 2016. The numbers have been growing since then. As of 2019, there are 1,451 students.

Management

Pathlight School is run by the Autism Resource Centre, a non-profit organisation that also offers early intervention, therapy and training for persons with autism in Singapore.[17] The school employs 81 staff, including teachers, therapists and autism consultants,[8] and the school board is headed by founder, ARC president and Member of Parliament Denise Phua.[3][6][7] Operating costs of the school are paid by the Ministry of Education and National Council of Social Service, while other costs, estimated at S$5 million per year, are funded through fees, donations, merchandise sales and fundraising events.[8] Under the partnership between Pathlight School and Eden School, the two schools have a centralised admission system and share various resources; together, they form the national provision of education for children across the autism spectrum.[6]

References
  1. Goh, Yan Han (21 August 2019). "More kids with autism, raising demand for school places". The Straits Times. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  2. Ho Ka Wei, "School for autistic kids to open next year", The Sunday Times, 20 July 2003.
  3. Leow Si Wan, "A Path to work life", The Straits Times, 28 April 2010.
  4. "$335,000 raised for Pathlight School", Channel NewsAsia, 5 August 2006.
  5. "The inaugural MOE-NCSS Special Education Awards Archived 20 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine", Ministry of Education press release, 16 November 2007.
  6. Loh Chee Kong, "An Eden for autistic children", Today, 4 April 2009.
  7. "A Unified Whole Archived 10 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine", d+a magazine, Issue 53, 2010.
  8. Tania Tan, "This special school is mainstream too", The Straits Times, 5 August 2006.
  9. "An early start for a child with autism", The Straits Times, 4 July 2007.
  10. "A Day in the Life of a Special Education Teacher", schoolbag.sg, Ministry of Education, 21 January 2008.
  11. "Passing PSLE a greater hurdle for some students", Channel NewsAsia, 24 November 2006.
  12. Speech by Dr Ng Eng Hen Archived 24 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine at the official opening of the new Pathlight School site on Tuesday, 27 April 2010, at 10:30am.
  13. "Pathlight expands IT courses for autistic kids", The Straits Times, 12 May 2011.
  14. "Exhibition features art pieces created by autistic students", Channel NewsAsia, 1 April 2011.
  15. Joan Chew, "More help for autistic adults seeking employment", The Straits Times, 4 June 2010.
  16. "Cartons? That's their business", The New Paper, 27 July 2010.
  17. Chuah Yii Wen, "Lighting new path for autistic children", The Straits Times, 10 February 2007.

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