Career as Teacher

thats cause I have a passion for sports and I'm currently considering going to NIE to be a pe teacher. Is it as easy to rise as normal teachers or is it harder due to u teaching PE which is a non academic subject?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If you chose to believe / take what were posted here to be the general consensus about the teaching profession, then you are like what I would label as a "mad scientist". One who would jump to conclusion based on a superficial level of observation or result of a small sample. What's worse is that the same posters could have made multiple posts giving the impression that many people share the same opinion.

I am sure you have heard of the term - the silent majority? Are you aware of the number of teachers in Singapore? In any organization, company or team there will be always be misfits, people who don't belong, people who felt left behind. These are usually the ones who will be bad mouthing the organizations, company or team.

So go figure.

Yes you are quite right. Hence, do keep the comments coming!

Originally Posted by tepic_monster

I am a relatively satisfied teacher now in a neighborhood secondary school, so maybe my views can add some balance.

I sense a lot of disgruntlement from some of my peers in the school and also some who post online are mainly as a result of mismatch of expectations and not really that the job of a teacher is really that bad compare to other junior level non-manager jobs out there.

I feel the mismatch in expectations usually come from 2 areas – 1) the actual day to day routine being different from what was envisioned when they first join teaching 2) career and salary expectations over the longer term. I will try to address both areas base on my experience, no right or wrong here so those not happy as a teacher now please don’t take offence.

On the issue of job scope the most common problem is most people including me join teaching with a fuzzy concept that our main job which takes up the bulk of our time is to teach the students and impart our knowledge. Of course once you are in you will realize actual teaching is just 1 part of the job (~40% of time for me).

In the day to day work you get embroiled over many other matters that include administration, customer service to the parents, play a bit of office politics, CCA, sort out relationship with other teachers and/or your boss, play nanny to your students (I was once instructed by VP to come to school really early to escort a student to school from his house every morning as he was playing truant and parents demand the school make sure he really turn up). What all this means is a significant minority of teachers become very disillusioned and lost their passion feeling they were defrauded to joining MOE.

For me and the so call “silent majority” we take it in stride. I mean everyone like to work in a job they like and have passion without needing to waste time on unproductive side shows, but how many can actually do that in both public and private sector? From what I hear of my uni friends who are in the private sector, the complains are also about the same – arrowed to do menial stuff, embroiled in office politics, file endless reports, attend pointless meetings etc. Are we passionate about being a MOE teacher? Probably most are not. Are we bitter and drag ourselves to work everyday? Not really, it is a normal job that pays decently.

Then come the next major point of unhappiness – pay and career progression. To be honest I think we are aware when we join that being a teacher is not the way if you want to be rich, get promoted every 2 years, live the metropolitan lifestyle etc. But I notice what happen to some mid-career teachers is that when they first join, they thought they are alright with losing out the career and pay, but after some years as they hear more and more of their peers get promoted to Directors, Vice Presidents etc. getting huge bonuses and hitting 5 figure salaries some start to become envious and backside itchy.

Once you start comparing, it is natural to think they are being short change. To be fair to MOE, they try their best to keep teachers motivated by rotation, development program, creating fake levels so that at least on paper you can get promoted a few times in your life, but then we also have to be realistic – in a school there is only room for a few HODs, 2 VP and 1 principal out of so many teachers. Most will never promote into managerial position and will most likely retire as a senior teacher at best, this is a fact of life.

The money is decent, most mid-career teachers in my school are paid 5-6k while the oldies can reach 7-8k+. It’s not fantastic money and benefits compared to sexy industries like banking, O&G, FMCG etc., but the stability is there and realistically speaking I don't think many people in private sector or other civil service ministries actually can hit 5-figure superscale salaries in their lifetime as well.

In summary, my take is if you want to be a teacher, go in and treat it just like any other job and don't fantasize about being noble, moulding the future or some such nonsense. Keep your head low and stay out of trouble, don't be envious of others outside who have outperformed you, but be thankful that you are much better than some others who are overworked underpaid or worse still retrenched and unemployed.

My 2C.

All I can say is thank you for your comments! Unfortunately most of my peers have outshone me in every manner possible so I am relatively unfazed by their success. However, I am keen to carve myself a good career in the education sector so teaching is only the first step to reach the end goal.

U are wrong.

The comments made by the forumer are fair and reasonable.

U are the one who needs to do some serious soul-searching.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

It is losers like you that make me worry for my children when I send them to school. If you dun have the heart to teach, please fcuk off from MOE and dun affect the young. If you just want slack go through motion to work everyday, go join a office desk job in another ministry.

Hi again,

I would to ask another question if possible. Is the NIE-NTU PGDE recognised in other countries such as HK, UK and etc? Has any teacher from the MOE ever taught overseas armed with their NIE-NTU PGDE?

Hi, anyone here a mid-career applicant? I worked for 2 years then stopped to take care of my baby. I've already signed the contract for next year teaching primary school. However, I was not given any increment so I was wondering is it cos I'm not teaching a "relevant" subject at primary level or if it is cos I stopped work for coming 2 years.

Would appreciate if someone could advise me on the salary increment for mid-career applicants. Many thanks!

From my knowledge, increments will be given after you are a trained teacher but not prior to NIE training.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi, anyone here a mid-career applicant? I worked for 2 years then stopped to take care of my baby. I've already signed the contract for next year teaching primary school. However, I was not given any increment so I was wondering is it cos I'm not teaching a "relevant" subject at primary level or if it is cos I stopped work for coming 2 years.

Would appreciate if someone could advise me on the salary increment for mid-career applicants. Many thanks!

First, we have the highest paid politicians. And now, we have the best paid teachers!

Do you agree?

S'pore teachers highest paid in world
S'pore teachers highest paid in world | Edvantage

Huh uh, not the same at all, the two.

The politicians' pay are the highest in the world and almost the highest paid profession in the country. The teachers' pay on the other hand maybe the highest among teachers in the world but certainly not among the highest paid profession in the country.

Other professions pay better - politicians, doctors, lawyers, accountants and even engineers.

So no comparison.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

First, we have the highest paid politicians. And now, we have the best paid teachers!

Do you agree?

S'pore teachers highest paid in world
S'pore teachers highest paid in world | Edvantage

Originally Posted by Unregistered

First, we have the highest paid politicians. And now, we have the best paid teachers!

Do you agree?

S'pore teachers highest paid in world
S'pore teachers highest paid in world | Edvantage

Maybe highest paid but probably also longest working hours in the world. I dun think UK and European teachers work as long hours as SG teachers. My friend is in school at 7am and sometimes leaves school at 7pm. Recently school had mid-autumm festival lagi better, work until 10pm.