SINGAPORE : As part of the effort to ease the workload of
teachers and improve administration, a new post of Vice Principal
(Administration) will be created.
And schools will also get teachers for Special Needs
children.
MPs were concerned about the administrative workload in schools,
and with the number of teachers set to go up by 15 percent over the
next five years, administrative posts will also go up.
Mr Chan Soo Sen, Minister of State for Education, said: "The VP
admin will be positioned to help the principal manage resources
strategically, drive excellence in administration as well as
innovations."
But not every school will get the additional help - only larger
schools with more students and programmes will do so.
Also announced were more space for schools and students. Enrolment
will fall in each school by 10 to 15 percent.
MPs also asked about integrating students with special
students.
Mr S, Iswaran, MP for West Coast GRC, said: "Today the way we have
special education is two disparate models. First is a kind of
integration model where students with special needs go to
mainstream schools...the other model is customised special
education schools. Can we pursue some other model?"
The Ministry, for a start, will recruit 250 Special Needs teachers
who will be deployed to 20 primary and 30 secondary schools.
On the topic of Malay and Tamil language curriculum reforms, MPs
said speed is crucial.
Mr Zainudin Nordin, MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, said: "There is
obvious concern because we see more students losing mastery and
interest in the learning of the mother tongue."
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Hawazi Daipi said both
reviews were progressing well and should be completed by
August.
Some 6,000 students were surveyed, and most say they like studying
their language. - CNA