Career as Teacher

Originally Posted by Unregistered

wah if really is as such, how to make FSBB work tbh?

secondary sch coming on board more or less in 2024

primary sch wise i can only relate to my kid who is in p3 this year

some hybrid of class shuffling already in place like some form of SBB until i am like Huh

got a high flyer friend of mine with kids in pri school asking how to avoid FSBB school. this friend was further shocked by the fact that autonomous schools cannot escape FSBB too. now all parents seem to be scrambling for the schools that managed to escape FSBB so far.

the public does have a good impression of FSBB since its intent is great... but they are also very aware that resources such as venues and manpower such as teachers are too lacking in normal neighbourhood schools. so in that case, they would prefer their child to avoid all the chaotic and logistical issues from the beginning instead

Originally Posted by Unregistered

got a high flyer friend of mine with kids in pri school asking how to avoid FSBB school. this friend was further shocked by the fact that autonomous schools cannot escape FSBB too. now all parents seem to be scrambling for the schools that managed to escape FSBB so far.

the public does have a good impression of FSBB since its intent is great... but they are also very aware that resources such as venues and manpower such as teachers are too lacking in normal neighbourhood schools. so in that case, they would prefer their child to avoid all the chaotic and logistical issues from the beginning instead

Want to avoid? Then go to IP schools or express only schools (as teacher or as parent lol)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

But there has to be basic requirements to be met to draw a substantial salary. It's not even about KP vs non KP yet. Just like how a BT has a lighter workload at GEO2, there should also be differentiated requirements between the 5, 4 and 3.

By the way, in the past the ministry kept mentioning in the news that resignations should be kept minimal because "experienced teachers are valuable". Look around you and reflect on whether this is indeed true? Are these old birds truly helping out? Or they just want to do minimal work to achieve their "work life balance"?

If a GEO5 does not want to shoulder extra workload at his appointment level - demote back to 4 to be fair in compensation. Or half the salary and go for part time scheme. Or go be FAJT. If not, immediately risk getting slapped with a C- or D. Otherwise wouldn't their high salaries be draining the Ministry's budget when the productivity is like crap? While a 3 or 4 who chooses to take on his extra workload be rewarded with higher PB or accelerated progression.

Actually, why are you so unhappy about? You are paid to do a job. There are many schools in Singapore. Just like driving, if you see that the left lane is already congested, why drive towards the left lane and insist the rest to speed up?

You own your own career my friend, so what you need to do is to ask yourself are you happy with your progression. If the answer is no, then switch to another school or another path altogether. Have you considered if every car is zooming down the lane, how long would they last. Can I end with this small observation to illustrate my point. Every slower driver on the left lane right now was a fast and furious driver of the right lane before in his or her driving life. What you should be asking is, is it making sense to stay in the left lane or zoom yourself out to the right lane.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Actually, why are you so unhappy about? You are paid to do a job. There are many schools in Singapore. Just like driving, if you see that the left lane is already congested, why drive towards the left lane and insist the rest to speed up?

You own your own career my friend, so what you need to do is to ask yourself are you happy with your progression. If the answer is no, then switch to another school or another path altogether. Have you considered if every car is zooming down the lane, how long would they last. Can I end with this small observation to illustrate my point. Every slower driver on the left lane right now was a fast and furious driver of the right lane before in his or her driving life. What you should be asking is, is it making sense to stay in the left lane or zoom yourself out to the right lane.

You are right in essentially saying that teaching is not only a calling, but also a job, and should be treated as such. But what is disturbing is how much MOE tries to gaslight teachers into buying into the constant shifting of goalposts (in a single direction) for what a 'normal teacher's workload' should be, or for any semblance of career progression opportunities. Some teachers who cannot cope with the insane workload expected of the average teacher start to believe that it is their own inadequacy and incompetence, while the Ministry continues to believe that teachers' passion and love for students will be an indefinite driver to meeting increasingly onerous expectations.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You are right in essentially saying that teaching is not only a calling, but also a job, and should be treated as such. But what is disturbing is how much MOE tries to gaslight teachers into buying into the constant shifting of goalposts (in a single direction) for what a 'normal teacher's workload' should be, or for any semblance of career progression opportunities. Some teachers who cannot cope with the insane workload expected of the average teacher start to believe that it is their own inadequacy and incompetence, while the Ministry continues to believe that teachers' passion and love for students will be an indefinite driver to meeting increasingly onerous expectations.

and also gaslighting teachers and school management into believing that this kind of pathetic headcount is enough to roll out ambitious things like FSBB.. and teachers who cannot cope are "not good enough"

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You are right in essentially saying that teaching is not only a calling, but also a job, and should be treated as such. But what is disturbing is how much MOE tries to gaslight teachers into buying into the constant shifting of goalposts (in a single direction) for what a 'normal teacher's workload' should be, or for any semblance of career progression opportunities. Some teachers who cannot cope with the insane workload expected of the average teacher start to believe that it is their own inadequacy and incompetence, while the Ministry continues to believe that teachers' passion and love for students will be an indefinite driver to meeting increasingly onerous expectations.

The whole of gov blames the shrinking labour force but does nothing to stop people from working for hours and hours past dinnertime. And they wonder why people aren't making babies.. or going to museums and concerts.. or having a life

When will we be notified about PB?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You are right in essentially saying that teaching is not only a calling, but also a job, and should be treated as such. But what is disturbing is how much MOE tries to gaslight teachers into buying into the constant shifting of goalposts (in a single direction) for what a 'normal teacher's workload' should be, or for any semblance of career progression opportunities. Some teachers who cannot cope with the insane workload expected of the average teacher start to believe that it is their own inadequacy and incompetence, while the Ministry continues to believe that teachers' passion and love for students will be an indefinite driver to meeting increasingly onerous expectations.

Well said.....

The work week as defined by MOM is 44h long. Even though public servants are not protected by the employment act, the 44h serves as a good guideline on the amount of workload anyone in Singapore is expected to do.

OT by a few hours each week, if don't want to be calculative, still can close one eye.

When work way exceeds the limit, then it is not about being calculative. It is about standing up against exploitation. There are many who stay in school for 12h daily, and continue to work when they return home, and even work across the weekend. It is saddening to say that 80-90h week is not uncommon.

Basically 1 person doing 2 persons workload, while collecting 1 person's pay.
And the worst part is, after sacrificing health and personal time, the person get a C grade during appraisal, because the work done 'is not impactful enough'.

There is nothing wrong with doing what one is paid to do.

If someone is really not performing up to the expectations expected of their paygrade, by all means terminate them. However, most people are performing up to expectations. When the job descriptions were written, they were written with the legal 44h norm in mind, not with the perverse 'new normal' that many have grown too used to.

GEO5 is meant to be a normal classroom teacher. It is not a KP level paygrade, nor are GEO5s meant to be STs.

A normal teacher shouldn't be expected to lead or manage other duties outside of classroom teaching. Leading should be the responsibility of the management. They are appointed as the management for a reason.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

When will we be notified about PB?

Probably sometime next week, can check in HRP