Career as Teacher

Thanks for taking the time to elaborate. A lot clearer now that I've realised what perspective you are referring to. Seems pretty logical - definitely something to think about.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I know where you are coming from, but this is a very ops way of looking at things. You are looking at things in a very by the book junior level staff way but not from a policy and strategic perspective.

I never disputed that payscales and official job levels are different b/w Snr Teacher and Teacher. I am trying to explain to you and the rest what goes on in the mind of the policy makers. All these supposed paysclaes and job levels are just standard tricks HR pros use to market to you guys.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Cap is 6 hours per week now.

MOE looks to be tightening up on the tuition industry though. Not sure how long this practice of allowing teachers to moon light will last.

I don't think it will be abolished. Some people do not get public education. They are home schooled, and it makes sense for their rich parents to hire MOE teachers to tutor them one to one.

There is always a market, and it doesn't hurt MOE. Six hours is a reasonable moonlighting cap. I was guessing ten hours a week.

[Rodon_Tan]

Hi all,

I think this is a good place to ask questions as I really want to be a teacher and there seems to be some teachers here.

1) Is it generally difficult for a degree holder (degree in fine arts from NAFA / Lasaelle, to teach art at secondary level) to get in the GEO 1 Scale? Because the GEO 2 scale is way too low (GEO 2 scale is as low as admin assts salary, which is unjustified).

2) Art teachers generally teach only 1 subject (art) in secondary school?

3) I often hear teachers saying that teaching is a very stressful job due to the many subjects and politics etc, but if u're teaching art alone, it's going to be an easier life?

Need some advice here as I'm considering a career switch. 29 yrs old this year.

Tks!
Rodon

[kurei87]

dont be a teacher. pay little, over worked, not much benefits
detrimental to health and family life

Originally Posted by Rodon_Tan

1) Is it generally difficult for a degree holder (degree in fine arts from NAFA / Lasaelle, to teach art at secondary level) to get in the GEO 1 Scale? Because the GEO 2 scale is way too low (GEO 2 scale is as low as admin assts salary, which is unjustified).

Quite hard as the number of applicants is much higher than the number of openings. Priority will be given to those who have held managerial/professional level positions in reputable organizations.

2) Art teachers generally teach only 1 subject (art) in secondary school?

Not really. I know some schools roster them to fill in as relief teachers as well. They are also expected to take on non-teaching work.

3) I often hear teachers saying that teaching is a very stressful job due to the many subjects and politics etc, but if u're teaching art alone, it's going to be an easier life?

Teaching is a highly interactive job with students, parents, colleagues and management as your stakeholders. There is no such thing as teaching art alone. If you want an easy life and be a loner kind, teaching is not for you.

Sounds like we cannot run away with the cost of living in Singapore.

My thought is you get the fundamental correct, it is easier to get the rest.

Teaching is not easy. But it can be easy, if you are equipped with the toolbox. That's what I learn from a mentor at Lee Wei Song school. Although they are into enrichment music training, they make a lot of sense. I quote:

"Like a handyman, a teacher needs to have his own toolbox full of tools. Imagine if the handyman only has 1 tool to solve all his problems. Example, the handyman needs to hang a picture on the wooden wall, he uses a hammer to hit a nail. He has a perfect answer. What happens when there is no nail but a screw? If he only has a hammer, using brute force, he will get the screw hammer into the wood. But it is going to create a crack and very tiring in the process. The best solution to a screw is a screw driver. Students are like nail and screw, they come in different levels of understanding. The trainer needs to be equipped with hammer, screw driver, plier, saw, etc. The more tools the trainer possesses, becoming a great teacher is so much easier. "

They are running a Train-the-Trainer course. MDA subsidizes 70% or 90%, depending on your status. Check it out for seriously committed teacher or want-to-be.

Hi there seems to be a number of experienced people in the industry.. I'm intending to take up a scholarship with MOE. Can I ask what's the career progression like? I am interested in teaching but I think it is only pragmatic to find out the rough progression as well. I understand it's something like:
2 years of teaching
2 years posted to HQ
1-2 years in teaching/HQ
Promoted to HOD
After that based on merit

Is that how it is? Thanks very much for your humble advice (:

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi there seems to be a number of experienced people in the industry.. I'm intending to take up a scholarship with MOE. Can I ask what's the career progression like? I am interested in teaching but I think it is only pragmatic to find out the rough progression as well. I understand it's something like:
2 years of teaching
2 years posted to HQ
1-2 years in teaching/HQ
Promoted to HOD
After that based on merit

Is that how it is? Thanks very much for your humble advice (:

Nope. Promotion to HOD is not a guaranteed thing. Subject Head already depend on merit, i.e. about top 20% of the teaching corhot will get it. After that to HOD again only another 25% of Subject Heads will eventually get it.

1 year NIE.
2-3 years teaching
2-3 years HQ
probably subject head after that

earliest hit principal probably around mid-30s.

[darialim]

high entry pay, but pay increment quite slow, after dealing with rude students and sabotaging colleagues, bring marking home after work to clear and filling up multiple forms to get a new marker pen, whoever enters and stays in MOE, i salute you.