Career as Teacher

Originally Posted by Unregistered

It's been weighing heavily on my mind lately, and I can't help but wonder if I'm the only one feeling this way. Especially during New Year, when everyone seems to be flaunting their achievements and comparing salaries, it hits harder. Why can't I even reach a five-digit salary? I pour my heart and soul into my work, sacrificing countless after-school hours and weekends for co-curricular activities, event plannings and execution, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. But in the process, I've inadvertently neglected my family for years, and the damage and fallout feels irreparable. Now, my personal life is in shambles, family pretty much gone, and work still demands more from me. I put my entire existence tethered to my job, and despite giving it my all, I'm constantly indirectly told it's not good enough. These thoughts have been consuming me, and I can't shake the feeling that life simply isn't worth living anymore. Am I the only teacher feeling this?

If you are looking for 5-digit salary, civil service is definitely not the right place. Even more so for farmers.

The only perk that civil service has, is job stability.

If you want more money, private sector is the way to go.

And no matter where you go, keep your worklife within what you are due. Everyone is replaceable, and working harder and longer not only doesn't really improve your career, it harms your health and family ties, which are irreplaceable.

If you think you can tahan, stay.

Otherwise, better to look for greener pastures. There are plenty out there.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

It's been weighing heavily on my mind lately, and I can't help but wonder if I'm the only one feeling this way. Especially during New Year, when everyone seems to be flaunting their achievements and comparing salaries, it hits harder. Why can't I even reach a five-digit salary? I pour my heart and soul into my work, sacrificing countless after-school hours and weekends for co-curricular activities, event plannings and execution, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. But in the process, I've inadvertently neglected my family for years, and the damage and fallout feels irreparable. Now, my personal life is in shambles, family pretty much gone, and work still demands more from me. I put my entire existence tethered to my job, and despite giving it my all, I'm constantly indirectly told it's not good enough. These thoughts have been consuming me, and I can't shake the feeling that life simply isn't worth living anymore. Am I the only teacher feeling this?

5 figure salary as an EO is not mission impossible but not very common unless you are a SEO. So if finanacial progression is what you pursue, teaching or civil service may not be your first choice. To be frank, there is no in between or best of both worlds, it’s either you place you work or your family first. Once that decision was made, there is really no turning back. I used to priortise my work at all costs, but a wise colleague reminded me that no matter what you do and what position you hold, all of us are just a number in the grander scheme of things and we are all replaceable. However, in your family, you are irreplaceable and from that point onwards, I had an epiphany and that is my family will always be mine first priority. I am not sure if you can mend your relationship with your family, I hope it’s not too late.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

It's been weighing heavily on my mind lately, and I can't help but wonder if I'm the only one feeling this way. Especially during New Year, when everyone seems to be flaunting their achievements and comparing salaries, it hits harder. Why can't I even reach a five-digit salary? I pour my heart and soul into my work, sacrificing countless after-school hours and weekends for co-curricular activities, event plannings and execution, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. But in the process, I've inadvertently neglected my family for years, and the damage and fallout feels irreparable. Now, my personal life is in shambles, family pretty much gone, and work still demands more from me. I put my entire existence tethered to my job, and despite giving it my all, I'm constantly indirectly told it's not good enough. These thoughts have been consuming me, and I can't shake the feeling that life simply isn't worth living anymore. Am I the only teacher feeling this?

Hello friend, I hope you feel better after a break.

One thing I hope you realise (as early as possible!) is that schools differ quite much across the landscape. In terms of work load, opportunities, work culture and environment, people always feel that "its all the same everywhere" but actually its not true. Move around and find the right people, place, and environment. Don't stay still in one place for 20 years to regret and have all these negative feelings. A lot of teachers just want to find success in wherever they are, refuse to move, refuse to try something different or go somewhere else.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hello friend, I hope you feel better after a break.

One thing I hope you realise (as early as possible!) is that schools differ quite much across the landscape. In terms of work load, opportunities, work culture and environment, people always feel that "its all the same everywhere" but actually its not true. Move around and find the right people, place, and environment. Don't stay still in one place for 20 years to regret and have all these negative feelings. A lot of teachers just want to find success in wherever they are, refuse to move, refuse to try something different or go somewhere else.

for some subjects, it is extremely hard to move or transfer, unless u do cross level deployment, where people are immediately very interested in u

Originally Posted by Unregistered

for some subjects, it is extremely hard to move or transfer, unless u do cross level deployment, where people are immediately very interested in u

i believe it’s much better now though?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Otherwise, better to look for greener pastures. There are plenty out there.

Four of us in the same school have looking for greener pastures over the last three to four years. There seem to be limited choices due to our "only teaching experience". One of us was brave enough to just quit in 2022. She has since become a private tutor but earning about half of what she used to earn even after one year of doing this. Private tutoring is not that lucrative after all. She was teaching EL in a primary school.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Four of us in the same school have looking for greener pastures over the last three to four years. There seem to be limited choices due to our "only teaching experience". One of us was brave enough to just quit in 2022. She has since become a private tutor but earning about half of what she used to earn even after one year of doing this. Private tutoring is not that lucrative after all. She was teaching EL in a primary school.

It's only lucrative if you adopt a business model, or align yourself to a business model, that maximises profits at the expense of the so-called 'greater good'. You don't have to look far to find mega tuition centre chains that charge exorbitant fees for group classes. You may also find current MOE teachers asking upwards of 150+ per hour for 1-to-1 weekend tutoring, especially for A level subjects and/or Music (all levels). As with any business, if you set it up to target the wealthy clientele, you'll have a shot at making big bucks. But this always creates a dilemma for the teacher whose heart yearns to do social good.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If promoted you will get a "big" increment. The "big" increment consists of two components added up together:
1) the merit increment, which is the default April increment that you get every year as long as you don't get a D grade or hit the ceiling;
2) the promotion increment

If not promoted, you only get a merit increment (component 1).

Usually how much will merit increment and promotion increment be? Can give a rough figure? TIA!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Usually how much will merit increment and promotion increment be? Can give a rough figure? TIA!

Difficult to say now. It used to be a lot higher before covid, and it hasn't been enough years "post-covid" to really know what the new typical figures are.

FWIW, my last promotion from GEO4 to GEO5 only gave me about 420+ in total. C+ grade for the preceding year's work.

Does the payroll for March or April reflect the merit/ promotion increment?