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http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/05/16/are-singapore-teachers-overworked/comment-page-82/#comments
sarah
on June 4, 2010 at 1:22 am
i have been teaching for the past 15 years…
when i first joined teaching, i do look forward to plan all my
lessons and carried out the lessons with great joy. Now if you ask
me, I drag my feet to work…There are tonnes of things to do; pre,
during & post…Single session school means teachers are working
from 7am to 5pm …planning lessons, setting papers, CCA , lesson
observations, pleasing ur RO, principal,vice principal, HODs,recess
duty, long hours of level reviews, departmental meetings,meet the
parents sessions, book checkings…etc…etc…etc. As teachers, we are
also expected to stay healhty with zeroes MCs and must refrain from
taking childcare leave as all these will affect our perfomance
ranking..;(
Now with perfomance bonus, teachers are working round the clock
just to fatten up their portfolios…Need I say more???
Honey
on June 4, 2010 at 1:43 am
Teachers are definitely overworked. As a working mother, I find
it really tough to balance work and family commitments. I just feel
guilty about spending so much time on school work that my own
children are neglected. And it’s very upsetting that despite
schemes introduced like the part-time teaching scheme to help
teachers with young children, schools are still not giving the much
needed support. MOE doesn’t have any guidelines on what makes up a
3/4, 2/3 or 1/2 workload. As such, schools are left to decide and
work out the workload that best meet the needs of the school and
not the teachers. Many times, we are always told that school needs
come first. Then, when are our needs met? I was told not to be
calculative even though I’m on a 3/4 workload (3/4 workload = 3/4
of the salary). I ended up doing more than what was agreed on
before I started on the part-time teaching scheme. My Principal
even suggested that I should consider other options like doing
contract or flexi-adjunct teachers programme. But to be a contract
or flexi-adjunct teacher, I need to resign from the service. It
really shows how much I’m valued as a teacher in the school. It is
not surprising that many teachers are leaving the service. MOE
should really look into the needs of working mothers like myself.
It is quite sad that many experienced teachers are leaving the
service not because they have lost the passion but to fulfill the
needs of the family. More should be done to actively support
work-life balance which is clearly lacking.
Sangeetha
on June 4, 2010 at 1:56 am
Honey, i understand your pain. i am a single mom. My son is on a
wheelchair and i need a part-time maid to look after him. i pay my
maid by the hour and she also has other houses to go to so her
hours are quite fixed. But my school keeps coming up with last
minute meetings and duties. This was a financial and mental drain
for me so i spoke with my principal about it, requesting that at
least i get a one week advance notice before said duties. And you
know what she said i should look into other avenues like get my
neighbours to help or maybe even put my son in a hostel !
Dekayedkat
on June 4, 2010 at 2:26 am
I say give this a rest already. It is fairly obvious that most
of the comments posted were from teachers and it is more obvious
that MOE is not hearing this for the first time. As a young
teacher, I feel betrayed by the Ministry. All the advertisements on
smiling teachers and pupils are just bollocks. As a teacher, I am
underpaid, unappreciated and definitely overworked. I have allowed
three years of my youth past me by, slogging my arse off, meeting
deadlines and pleasing everyone else except myself.
At the end of the day, I get a measly email thanking me for my
effort (usually by the Principal and the HODs), or if I am lucky, a
Performance Bonus which they dangle like a carrot in front of me,
just to spur me to do more work.
The whole system is draining the patience and most importantly
passion in us teachers. One day, you will realise that all your
good teachers are gone and you will only have yourself to
blame.
new
girl on June 4, 2010 at 2:27 am
i just wanna teach. if i had wanted to run a CCA, i would have
trained to become a coach or a trainer or sth fancy like that. if i
had wanted to do admin work i would have become a clerk or
secretary. if i had wanted to plan an anniversary dinner or a
concert or sth like that, i would have become an event planner. i
want none of all that. i only want to teach. that is why i signed
on the dotted line. that is why i wanted to be a teacher. why must
MOE complicate the sweet simplicity of education by wearing
teachers down with so many other responsibilities? is any good
coming out of all these? can teachers, who started with so much
passion, deliver and really really teach, and provide quality
education when they are weighed down with so mny other duties that
has NOTHING to do with teaching at yhe very first place? maybe the
ministry is just happy with the
data-and-information-regurgitating-students that schools churn out
year after year. we want to NURTURE students. we want to give them
quality education. we want them to really learn. we want them to
experience. maybe our wants and the ministry’s wants are just not
one and the same.
my NIE lecturer once told me that every year, during the
induction ceremony, when the education minister announces that he
is proud to have xxxx numbers of teachers join the system that
year, and the audience will applaud, my lecturer will be the only
man shaking his head. his reason? for every xxxx number of fresh
faced clueless newbies that join the system, the xxxx number of
teachers are actually dashing out the back door.
I am a newbie and I have barely started but i am definitely
counting down to the end of my bond.
and dun tell me to quit if i aint happy coz the amt of $ to pay
back for breaking a bond isnt a few dollars and cents.
i was a tutor before and i was happy back then. because i PURELY
teach.
i do not want my family life to become a wreck because of an
under appreciated job. it already went a lil crazy during
practicum. and that was just practicum. no cca or committee
meetings, yet. it scares the hell out of me thinking how it would
be like when i get the “full load”
i do not want to miss out on watching my toddler grow and be
part of his life – just cause i am too busy with “work”.
i just want to teach. please.
The One Who
Got Away on June 4, 2010 at 2:33 am
I was a primary school teacher for 5 years. The workload, as
everyone knows, is heavy and requires long hours at the expense of
family time. At the same time, the working environment is very bad
in most schools. As teachers compete for head of department posts,
they resort to underhanded methods to put their competitors down.
Teachers who are the principal’s pets always get away with
everything and get promoted repeatedly while the rest get bogged
down with more and more work as instructed by these ‘pets’. MOE
encourages this harsh environment because complaints are reverted
to the principal and the teacher who complained will ‘get it’ from
the principal. I remember being asked by the principal whether I
really needed to go for my honeymoon just because a favourite ‘pet’
of hers slotted me in for an extracurricular duty at the last
minute during the school holidays. I had to shorten my trip to only
4 days inclusive of the travelling time to Europe. I arrived in
Singapore at 6+ am and was back in school at noon. I saw an older
colleague lose her mind in the teachers’ room. She was warded in
IMH and has never been the same since her discharge. We always fear
our appraisals and get threatened about losing our performance
bonus.In my final year of teaching, I did not get my performance
bonus because amongst other things, it was claimed that I did not
talk much to my colleagues. I didn’t agree with her view as I
thought that I did socialise as much as I could given that most
times I don’t even have time to go to the ladies in between classes
and during recess time. The principal wondered out loud to me as to
why I wasn’t upset like my other colleagues who had lost their
bonuses. I told her that it was just money and I will not rush out
of her office crying like the others. I quit as soon as I finished
my bond. Till this day, when I dream that I am still teaching, I
wake up in relief that I am now free from the nightmare of
teaching. In order to make life better for teachers, MOE should
look into the quality and character of the principals as a well
balanced principal who believes in the right values will inculcate
the right working environment for happy teachers.
Ellyas
on June 4, 2010 at 5:05 am
As the son of two teachers, I rarely get to see my parents at
all. Ever since my secondary school days, they have been in school
from 7 to 7, 5 days a week. Overworked is a severe understatement
as I have seen firsthand how much work teachers have. For example,
when there are no lessons during the school holidays, they are sent
for workshops, courses etc, most of which I find redundant.
Family time is severely affected, as growing up I rarely saw my
parents despite their best efforts to spend time with me and my
brother. Before the 5 day work week was implemented a few years
back, Saturdays were eaten up as well by the school.
john
on June 4, 2010 at 5:45 am
it is true, teachers in singapore are overworked
the government needs to act fast so the children do not get
affected.
limpei
on June 4, 2010 at 7:40 am
Teachers, NEVER ever sign up for half-load scheme or be
flexi-adjunct. Most schools have no idea what on earth that really
means. They will end up giving you 80% load or even full load at
50% pay. At least 3 of my colleagues learn it the hard way.
=
If you want to spend more time with your kids, this is how you do
it; do a half-assed job and get a ‘D’. A D-grader full-time teacher
will earn more than a flexi-adjunct teacher or a C-grade teacher on
half-load.
=
If you already thinking of half-load or flexi-adjunct, why you care
so much about the D-grade?
=
95% of all unhappiness in the school can be traced to the teacher’s
fear of the ‘D’ grade? If she not scared of D, she would have long
ago told off the principal or HOD for unprofessional conduct or
unreasonable demands on the job.
Arshad
on June 4, 2010 at 7:59 am
I just do not understand why MOE isn’t giving a solid solution
to this problem.My friend from NIE is about to enter teaching but
even before that, she has set her plans- resign in 4yrs time.I’m
not blaming her.Many of my previous teachers have done that. I’m a
student from NUS pharmacy.I had always wanted to join teaching and
even wanted to apply for a MOE scholarship. But that was before I
went back to my JC to seek advice and it was enough to make me
reject teaching. My teachers looked in bad shape even though I only
graduated 1yr back.I could see that stress is damaging their lives
significantly.Yes, I agree that every job has its stressful
periods, but teaching seems to occupy one of the top ranks in
stressful jobs. It will be good if MOE shows the public what are
the plans it has in the upcoming years. I am aware that allied
educators are recruited,but the public does not know how many
allied educators are present in each school and whether the system
is working as planned. SPEAK UP MOE!
Ministry
on June 4, 2010 at 8:10 am
MOE has overworked teachers and has short-changed their youthful
energy and spirit, riding on the mantra that this job is a calling.
Over the years, they’ve remove your pension and replaced it with
CONNECT PLAN. The CONNECT Plan is not meant to replace your
retirement as it is heavily reduced. They removed your pension and
REPACKAGED it into a heavily reduced CONNECT PLAN (reducing cost
for them in the expense of your welfare) and now tells you its an
incentive for you to stay longer in service. HOW DEVIOUS IS THE
GOVERNTMENT INDEED!
.
Then they get the teachers to be overtaxed and bonded. This again
reduces cost. To suck more blood from teachers, MOE introduced the
EPMS system to supposedly recognise teachers’ effort.. Rather every
teacher in MOE knows this is not the case. It has been the
experiences of many a teacher that the EPMS is introduced to get
teachers to do more and pay them less for these additional work.
When the EPMS was introduced, more and more initiatives from MOE
came into schools. Now, many teachers find these initiatives
laudable but they’re impractical as a teacher has only 24 hours in
a day. MOE introduced EPMS to increase the productivity of the
teachers at a reduced cost and knowing that many teachers would not
be able to take on so much garbage, they decide that the teachers
should be ranked.
.
They pitted each teacher against another teacher and ranked them.
And they call this activity – appraisal. Dirty politics is rife in
schools now. Ask your typical VP, he should know. As no teacher
wants to have an ugly grade, teachers were easily made to conform
to ANY MOE initiatives without resistance.
.
MAny teachers are repressed from the EPMS. And this repression in
pouring out today. I know very well MOE is listening. If it doesn’t
respond, rest assure foreign press will pick up on this. It is not
that difficult since it was only recently that MOE screwed up by
not allowing a deaf American to do her presentation. They
eventually backtracked when pressure was surmounting from the
american people and fellow teachers in Singapore and America.
.
Take your time, MOE. Again, more heart, less propaganda and
machinations.
What I had
to do to be happier me on June 4, 2010 at 9:57 am
“We always fear our appraisals and get threatened about losing
our performance bonus.In my final year of teaching, I did not get
my performance bonus because amongst other things, it was claimed
that I did not talk much to my colleagues. I didn’t agree with her
view as I thought that I did socialise as much as I could given
that most times I don’t even have time to go to the ladies in
between classes and during recess time. The principal wondered out
loud to me as to why I wasn’t upset like my other colleagues who
had lost their bonuses. I told her that it was just money and I
will not rush out of her office crying like the others…”
.
I know how you feel.
.
This is precisely what is the psyche of many unenlightened teachers
who have been manipulated by P and HOD who saw a loophole in the
EPMS system. If Singapore had guns, you’ll see many killing cases
like you see from US schools.
.
My advice to teachers. Take the D and earn cash outside. Don’t
depend on the PB and leverage on a second income. You will be
pissed initially but then you’ll be happy because the control
doesn’t work on you as you are NOT IDENTIFIED with their cunning
way of getting you to be a hypocritical and pretentious money
luster. It takes courage to have a work-life balance in MOE schools
but it’s courage that is worth investing it for a healthier you.
Don’t worry about labels. You spent more time seeing the kids than
your HOds or Ps. The kids are a better judge of your performance.
Keep your conscience clear.
.
I always made it clear to them, “I don’t suspect your intentions,
and I hope you don’t suspect my intentions either. But there are
things on which we disagree. Do you want me to agree on everything
with you? — whether you are right or wrong? Are you absolutely
certain, that you are right? If you are not so absolutely certain,
then give me the freedom to decide for myself. At least I will have
the pleasure of going
wrong on my own decision, and I will not make you feel guilty and
responsible.”
.
But most importantly do not fall into the trap that MOE
inadvertently has created, i.e. never allow the implicit pressure
of the environment in your school and the politics played by some
nutcracks thats making all our lives crazy, to get you to be
identified with a D. This is dirty labelling. Just get on with your
work. As you gain and see how a more and more balanced life does to
you, you”ll start asking for D gradings. This happened to me in my
school. I asked for a D grading during the annual meetings in end
JUne or end December. As I was clear that I love teaching and I
think MOE has gotten the fundamentals of teaching wrong. Why should
I follow the crowd when I know they’re wrong? Why should I succumb
to implicit and unthinking pressure? I’m an intelligent teacher.
And I love to live my life intelligently.
Money
cannot buy salvation on June 4, 2010 at 10:18 am
MOE. U BETTER LISTEN GOOD. I AM A CITIZEN OF THIS GODFORSAKEN
“COUNTRY” IF IT EVEN DARES TO CALL ITSELF ONE FOR ABUSE OF ITS OWN
CITIZENS. YOU BETTER START LISTENING AND TREATING US AS PROPER
SINGAPOREANS. AND NOT SLAVES. NEXT ELECTION, I AM GONNA VOTE
AGAINST YOU. UNDERSTAND? ONCE WE BREAK YOUR STUPID 2/3 MAJORITY,
YOU ARE SCREWED. WE ARE NOT STUPID. WE KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. WE
ARE NOT BLIND. WE ARE THINKING INDIVIDUALS. DON’T TAKE US FOR A
FRIGGING FOOL. AND YOUR TEACHERS UNION IS A BIG JOKE. WHAT HAVE
THEY DONE FOR THE TEACHERS OTHER THAN SQUEEZE MONEY FROM THEM?
Just a
private on June 4, 2010 at 11:08 am
My heart is heavy to hear of teachers who miscarry or go IMH
(not for the sake of early retirement) but because of real
mistreatment in the system or abuse of power. And it’s not just
about bonuses or work life balance but what the P, Vp or Kp have
done to their fellowmen while they are holding office. What values
or truth are MOE upholding? Would a Supt or P wants his wife,
children to miscarry? Remember an unborn foetus is also a living
being. Would a Supt or P wants his own children to be teachers in a
school where there is mismanagement? Would a Supt, P, VP or Kp want
to land in IMH? Anyway, they probably won’t. To end off, here’s an
ancient wise saying for all the Supts, DOE, Ps and VP, KPs,
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or
that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your
life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then
vanishes.” Be humble leaders. Do the right things to others when
you are still breathing. Your 5-figure salary can’t save you from
the grave. Morbid but true. It’s alright if teachers, ex-teachers,
aspiring teachers have been oppressed or taken for a ride because
there’s justice and justice will prevail. We may be privates in MOE
and not generals in rank but who has the last laugh in life we do
not know.
Marathon
Runner on June 4, 2010 at 11:48 am
@iras: Better off, your head lor! You just ask any teachers who
are in service for more than 10 years. They are the best people to
tell you whether easier or not. And to begin with, you think
teachers dare to complain. The loved ones AROUND them can’t stand
it anymore and spoke up! It’s people like you, who think you
understand the NATURE of the job, that frustrate the hell out of
teachers. You think we’re dealing with numbers? Dealing with paper?
Dealing with words? Dealing with several unreasonable adults? We
deal with LIVES! Hundreds of individuals a year!
Case is very very simple. You overwork the machine, it will give
you lousy products. And these lousy products cannot be detected
until too late. Remember the milk powder incident in China? Those
with brains go and think through lor… Some machines can continue to
endure and work for many many years… but don’t assume all’s well.
Remember the cause of Guatemala’s sinkhole?
Who are the machines? Who are the products? I tell you, when I
choose school for my children, I always ask a simple question – are
the teachers teaching my children happy?
SP
on June 4, 2010 at 12:05 pm
The fact that MOE is still silent on this issue of teachers
being overworked is a blatant disregard to public sentiment.
Teachers play pivotal role in shaping the character of our next
generation. Teaching is a high calling, a noble vocation. If we
want quality education in Singapore, then we have to cultivate
quality teachers. Not one who work the most, but one who attend
most to the needs of students. Let teachers do teaching. Anything
more is diluting their professionalism.
A
Parent on June 4, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Hi Sir,
I happened to come across lot of teacher’s feed back on their
long working hours, no time for family situation. I feel really
very sorry for them, I am an IT Professional i work very long
hours. But still i feel sorry for the teachers bcoz they are the
one bringing up the nation’s young generation. I feel they should
be a very good state of mind to bring up their students. If some
one mind set is in Toxic, they spread that to the students, it
would never bring an atmosphere of high quality education.
Singapore has always been achieving excel by making use of
Foreign Talents / Methodologies/ Technology. I think MOE may
consider the go to foreign to manage the schooling hours and
teachers moral.
As a parent I feel very sorry for my kid too. My daughter will
have to wake up atleast at 5.30am to get to school. Her timing of
food will be heavily impacted. Normal breakfast time for any one
will be 7.30am – 9.00 am. By going to school early i am really
concerned that her timing for breakfast and lunch is going to be
very different from any common people.
