Special education teachers resign at ten times mainstream rate

Special education teachers in Singapore are resigning at substantially higher rates than their mainstream counterparts, according to figures disclosed by Education Minister Desmond Lee. Between 2021 and 2025, approximately one in ten special education teachers left their positions, a rate ten times higher than the one in fifty resignation rate recorded among mainstream educators.

The widening gap between the two sectors underscores mounting pressures within special education, where teachers typically manage smaller class sizes and work with students requiring individualised attention and tailored support programmes. The higher attrition rate suggests that special education educators may face distinct challenges not experienced at the same intensity by mainstream teachers.

The resignation figures come as Singapore's education system continues to expand its inclusive education offerings and support for students with diverse learning needs. Education officials have not publicly detailed the specific factors driving departures from the special education sector, though experts have previously cited factors such as workload intensity, emotional demands and career progression concerns as potential contributors to staff turnover in specialised teaching roles.

The ministry's disclosure of these figures is likely to intensify discussions around teacher retention strategies, professional development pathways and working conditions within Singapore's special education framework. Policymakers may face pressure to implement targeted interventions to stabilise staffing levels in a sector critical to supporting students with learning differences and developmental needs.