Four special needs schools given Innovation Award

SINGAPORE: Pathlight School, a special school, has helped autistic students to express themselves and build confidence through its Artist Development Programme (ADP), which was launched in 2010.

The students were trained by art teachers and had the chance to exhibit and sell their works.

They have sold at least 200 of their paintings.

The school plans to leverage the success of the programme and explore areas such as design, singing and dancing.

Pathlight was among four schools given the Innovation Award by the Ministry of Education and the National Council of Social Service.

The other three schools — also for individuals with special needs — are AWWA School, Delta Senior School and Grace Orchard School.

"A lot of our students, because they are interested in drawing and when they come together in this ADP programme, they start to get interested in each other’s drawings and subject matter," said Linda Kho, the principal of Pathlight school.

"So, they very naturally talk to each other and say ’tell me more about your drawing’."

— CNA/xq