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Originally Posted by Unregistered
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Things are not as simple as we comprehend. There are a lot of dots needed to be connected to realize your above suggestions.
When you reduce class sizes, you need to consider the allocation of resource e.g. classrooms and facilities. Then you also have to consider beyond MOE, the inter-ministries' works e.g. urban planning and economic progression for the Nation. There are National imperatives to be weighed.
Blame on the declining birth rate. If you compare to the 80s and 90s, the educational landscapes back then were much simpler as we had sufficient kids to maintain the scale of operation. At least, MOE is not embarking on any retrenchment drives.
As an educator, we need to look at the situation objectively.
However, I acknowledge that MOE should look more intentionally into the mental-wellness of the teachers. Works can be all-around and daunting at times and the working pace appears to be moving faster with all the new approaches e.g. E-Pedagogy and regulations stacking up.
We need to continue streamlining the processes and if need be, revamp certain structures to support the teachers to move ahead.
Jiayou my fellow educators! |
Blaming the declining birth rate is simply parroting what you’re told by your higher ups. Since you talk abt connecting the dots, how abt exercising what you preach regarding the declining birth rates?
If schools/
MOE are willing and committed to improve the student to teacher ratio, the increase in quality of learning will reap benefits manyfolds. it might even spur our local population to consider starting families and having more kids.
the decision/policy makers took so much effort to emulate the education system of other developed countries (Finland etc) through overseas visits & observations etc, but somehow stopped short of modelling (or conveniently ignored) the classroom size in such countries.
the change in student teacher ratio will definitely impact other national considerations. but since we claim we care so much abt our pple’s education, then those other national considerations need to be readjusted accordingly.
i’m not a disgruntled educator. there’re many merits in Singapore’s education system. however, it’s not a perfect one, and there’s much more that can be done. as much as we try to encourage our students to be critical thinkers, we ourselves need to be one. otherwise this echo chamber syndrome will lead us to a vicious cycle of self detriment