Career as Teacher

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Not sure about that, but I know many work outside as tuition teachers and earn alot more from that(definitely 100k per annum combined).

So the long hours in school still accord them enough time to moonlight as tuition teachers!

Congratulations to all teachers....for the hefty market adjustment of 8%.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

a lot of modern teachers today not exactly the holiest saints around lor.
I once brought back a jc teacher i met at a club and she's those super chiong every week kind and worships angmo (SPG!). I also know of another lady who was the 3rd party in an engaged couple and they did all sorts of unwholesome stuff in the staff room toilet. all 3 of them are/were teachers. Dunno what happened after that or now.

But what i notice is that although their actions might be a bit unhealthy but what you notice is that they have the passion for their kids and that teacher 'fire' in them that they have when you talk to them.

I can confirm that a small minority of teachers nowadays are quite havok. Some of course still maintain their puritan image,... but those that are wild, are really wild.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Someone mentioned in another thread that teachers can earn 100k per annum before their mid thirties. How true is it?

It's true in a good year, meaning when the economy is good and if the teacher's performance is good. Usually the high performers will be able to earn 100k per year (including bonuses).

(This is after the recent 8% increment)

(For beginning GEO1 rates, prob can just refer to MOE website)
GEO1A1: 3380-5540
GEO1A2: 4450-6912
GEO1A3: 4806-7452
SEO1: 5184-8316
SEO1A1: 7236-9288
SEO1A2: 8748-11232

Of course, most teachers max out at GEO1A3. SEO1, 1A1, 1A2 are for SH/LH, HOD, VP ranks respectively.

As mentioned before, pay alone won't sustain you... really need to find the job meaningful to go on. That said, if you think you'll enjoy it, the numbers above should help you make a decision

does anyone know what is the increment for GEO 1.1 to GEO 1A1, not inclusive of annual increment?

Thanks for the info below, very useful.

What I find confusing is the very limited range over the whole career. For eg. let's say I am a good performer who can retire at the max of SEO1A1 monthly of 9288.

If I join MOE at 25 yrs old with standard honors, starting is already ~3400. That means over the next 40 years of my career until retirement, I only have 9288 - 3400 = 5888 to move assuming best case scenario .That works out to be ~2.5% increment annual.

Historically the range increase a few % every few years, but it does not seem to gel with all the stories I keep hearing from my teacher friends about easily getting 6% to 10% yearly. At that kind of rate they would have hit the ceiling before 40 yrs old. This situation is much worse for an average performer who retires at GEO1A3 max of 7452.

Only reason I can think of is they actually slow down the increment a lot in the later years.

Anyone with exp can share?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

(This is after the recent 8% increment)

(For beginning GEO1 rates, prob can just refer to MOE website)
GEO1A1: 3380-5540
GEO1A2: 4450-6912
GEO1A3: 4806-7452
SEO1: 5184-8316
SEO1A1: 7236-9288
SEO1A2: 8748-11232

Of course, most teachers max out at GEO1A3. SEO1, 1A1, 1A2 are for SH/LH, HOD, VP ranks respectively.

As mentioned before, pay alone won't sustain you... really need to find the job meaningful to go on. That said, if you think you'll enjoy it, the numbers above should help you make a decision

I got around $500 promotion increment from 1.1 to 1A1.

As for progression, what I hear is that it's not that rare for officers to max out their payscale… I'm nowhere near that stage yet so can't give any first-hand info, though.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks for the info below, very useful.

What I find confusing is the very limited range over the whole career. For eg. let's say I am a good performer who can retire at the max of SEO1A1 monthly of 9288.

If I join MOE at 25 yrs old with standard honors, starting is already ~3400. That means over the next 40 years of my career until retirement, I only have 9288 - 3400 = 5888 to move assuming best case scenario .That works out to be ~2.5% increment annual.

Historically the range increase a few % every few years, but it does not seem to gel with all the stories I keep hearing from my teacher friends about easily getting 6% to 10% yearly. At that kind of rate they would have hit the ceiling before 40 yrs old. This situation is much worse for an average performer who retires at GEO1A3 max of 7452.

Only reason I can think of is they actually slow down the increment a lot in the later years.

Anyone with exp can share?

Your friends must be still young. MOE is not stupid, they know that an average person from leaving school to late 30s is easy to get jobs & hop around, so they make sure the increase & pay match or exceed outside.

But once you hit 40, they know you screwed. Most teachers >40 no other work experience, got liability, where else can they run? That is when their increment suddenly become pathetic and sometimes don't even get any because max range already. whatever peanut, you also LLST.

My uncle is a retired teacher, he told me for the last 15 years with MOE, his salary just adjust slightly every few years because he long time ago already hit the max.

Then be smart about it. Save up and start a tuition centre with fellow senior teachers. Tuition business will boom like crazy in the next few years cos schools don't do proper teaching anymore - they "teach less" and now encourage kids to "play more".