Career as Teacher

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi, I am a second-year BT (currently GEO2) and while my fellow batchmates (we graduated from NIE the same time; and same gender as I am) are being promoted to GEO3 in April this year, I was informed that I will be promoted in October instead.

I wrote in to HR and was told that I did not "fulfill the criteria to be promoted in April". I am not sure of the reason why and which criteria they are talking about.

Anyone has any idea/was in similar situation as me and can provide some advice please? Thank you!

Your surprise is not the worst. Had a friend who did not get the auto cohort promotion after NIE graduation. The promotion to GEO3 only came ONE YEAR later than those of the same batch same gender. Queries were directed to both SLs and HR, but no clear answer was given.

This friend did not make mistakes and got C+ and Bs. Not a scholar but still TA holder. Did not go on any types of leave either.

Promotions are indeed slowing down...But is it likely to be affecting even cohort promotions...?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

exactly. then why do they expect teachers to do so many things that are out of teaching? planning school events, professional development, after school remedial. do these for free? when they can focus on classroom teaching instead.

have u not been keeping abreast of news on the educational priorities esp those coming out of political leaders mouth?? a teacher is not hired to teach but to develop a child holistically . that’s every teachers job

Whats e CEP benchmark for FHQ posting? Any idea?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Whats e CEP benchmark for FHQ posting? Any idea?

Minimally SEO 2

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I think we hv a big problem when ppl join the teaching profession for career progression. Many of current and older generation of Ps thankfully are not like that.

Got to pay the bills dude. Last time teachers are really highly paid. A normal teacher can afford landed properties, with some having multiple condos, and on top of that, receive pension after retirement. There were schemes like Teachers Estate to help teachers own a landed property. Compare that with today? Young officers can barely afford the tiny HDB flats. Owning a condo is impossible unless both are in the SEO paygrades.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Your surprise is not the worst. Had a friend who did not get the auto cohort promotion after NIE graduation. The promotion to GEO3 only came ONE YEAR later than those of the same batch same gender. Queries were directed to both SLs and HR, but no clear answer was given.

This friend did not make mistakes and got C+ and Bs. Not a scholar but still TA holder. Did not go on any types of leave either.

Promotions are indeed slowing down...But is it likely to be affecting even cohort promotions...?

Most likely offended someone, and promotion got blocked by P or SLs.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Got to pay the bills dude. Last time teachers are really highly paid. A normal teacher can afford landed properties, with some having multiple condos, and on top of that, receive pension after retirement. There were schemes like Teachers Estate to help teachers own a landed property. Compare that with today? Young officers can barely afford the tiny HDB flats. Owning a condo is impossible unless both are in the SEO paygrades.

Young officers cannot afford a bto? That's absolutely rubbish. Starting salary now is almost 4k.a teacher couple would earn between 8-9k combined after teaching a few years. A 4 room bto costs. A hdb bto at jurong west costs 291k and even if you're looking at a more attractive location such as at Queens town, it's 541k.

Why look at owning a condo? 80% of Singapore residents stay in hdb. If you're saying that teachers should be able to stay at a condo, you're saying that teachers should be in the top 20% of income earners in the country!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Young officers cannot afford a bto? That's absolutely rubbish. Starting salary now is almost 4k.a teacher couple would earn between 8-9k combined after teaching a few years. A 4 room bto costs. A hdb bto at jurong west costs 291k and even if you're looking at a more attractive location such as at Queens town, it's 541k.

Why look at owning a condo? 80% of Singapore residents stay in hdb. If you're saying that teachers should be able to stay at a condo, you're saying that teachers should be in the top 20% of income earners in the country!

The original poster was comparing with teachers of the past. Therefore it is relevant to compare between the lifestyle afforded to teachers in the past vs teachers in the present. Not everyone wants to live in non-mature estates, for various reasons. A 4rm in matured estates cost $600k to 800k nowadays. Even if husband and wife earn $5k each after a number of years teaching, a flat of such prices will cost at least 5x their annual income. And both couple need to work continuously to afford paying the instalments, and any stints of NPL will severely strain their finances.

Cost of living is kinda out of our scope here leh

Originally Posted by Unregistered

The original poster was comparing with teachers of the past. Therefore it is relevant to compare between the lifestyle afforded to teachers in the past vs teachers in the present. Not everyone wants to live in non-mature estates, for various reasons. A 4rm in matured estates cost $600k to 800k nowadays. Even if husband and wife earn $5k each after a number of years teaching, a flat of such prices will cost at least 5x their annual income. And both couple need to work continuously to afford paying the instalments, and any stints of NPL will severely strain their finances.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

GEO2 2019 C (fresh from practicum)
GEO3 2020 C+
GEO3 2021 B
GEO3 2022 A (took on int KP)
GEO4 2023

How is this rate? For a male PGDE TA holder. Is it better for my career to make a move to HQ?

I think this is considered fast? I'm assuming you will be getting your cluster sup interview for the KP role shortly, and doubt your school will let you leave quite immediately (maybe after 2 years?). But moving to HQ will definitely help to boost you further in terms of exposure and experience.

Can hear from the rest too on your rate of promotion and how you can plan forward. kudos!