Have the resources for Special Educational Needs (SEN) students be put effectively in Hong Kong?

Having implemented for 22 years since its first introduction to Hong Kong Education System in 1997, the effectiveness of Integrated Education draws public attention again after the film Distinction was put on screen in 2018. The idea of Integrated Education is to provide an inclusive learning environment which embraces diversity and respect differences. It aims to remove barriers and promote a love and caring culture for everyone, including those who have special needs. Students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) are generally categorized as 1) Dyslexia or Specific Learning Disabilities in Reading and Writing (SpLD); 2) Attention Deficit and/or Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ ADHD); 3) Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); 4) Visual Impairment (VI); 5) Hearing Impairment (HI); 6) Physical Disabilities (PD); 7) Speech Impairment (SI); 8) Mental Illness (MI); and 9) Chronic Conditions (CD). From the figures provided by the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, the number of SEN rose from 17,560 in 2008/09 to 31,790 in 2012/13 and across the 9 categories, ADHD recorded the largest number of increase from 1,570 to 4,780 in the 4 years. Data from other organizations also support the rising trend in terms of the number of SEN students that a survey conducted by a community organization in 2015 had a report of 50,000 SEN students and another study done by a SEN Concern Group in 2017 revealed that there were 80,000 students with Special Educational Needs in Hong Kong. To cope with the increasing needs of SEN students, despite pooling in more resources to support and continue the Integrated Education, the HKSAR Government seems not to have understood what are really in need for SEN students and their families, needless to say the underlying problem of Integrated Education. Therefore in this paper, the researcher would examine the current Integrated Education through case studies of Twice Exceptional (SEN and gifted) and policy research. The aims of this research project are of two-fold, firstly to enrich empirical data of this area and secondly draw recommendations for policy makers.