14 August 1998

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Higher Recruitment Target

The Ministry of Education plans to recruit an additional 2,600 teachers over the next two years. This will be over and above the regular annual target of 2,000. Hence, in the two years over 1999 and 2000, the annual intake will be increased to at least 3,000. The additional 2,600 represents a ramping up of recruitment ahead of time to meet staffing requirements in schools. If the Ministry can successfully recruit this additional number while maintaining its regular level of annual intake, the needs over the next three to five years in terms of catering for increases in pupil enrolment would be met.

2 The Ministry will be recruiting both graduates and non-graduates. This would include mid-career candidates. Interested candidates should not only have the requisite academic qualifications, but must also have the motivation and passion to provide the best education for our children.

3 The increase in intake over the next two years will be achieved without a compromise in the quality of teachers recruited as existing selection criteria will not be relaxed. They will be given the same quality teacher training at the National Institute of Education (NIE).

4 To cater for the higher intake over the next two years, two additional NIE teacher training programmes will be mounted to commence in January 1999 and January 2000. The additional NIE training programmes planned for in January 1999 and January 2000 will be the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) courses for graduate trainee teachers for secondary and primary schools. Non-graduate recruits will be trained in the July intake for the Diploma in Education (Dip-Ed) courses or the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science with Dip-Ed courses.

5 The coverage, curriculum contents and assessment methods for the two additional programmes in January 1999 and January 2000 will be the same as the regular NIE programmes starting in July each year but the sequencing and timing of the specific training modules will differ to optimise the available resources at NIE. All trainees will be trained in specific modules on the NIE campus. For the January intakes, trainees will begin with a short Basic Skills Course to equip them well to start off with school-based training before attending their first semester of coursework at NIE. All trainees from the various intakes will also take common examinations to uphold consistency in standards and quality.

6 All schools are being prepared to receive the additional recruits and provide support and guidance to them prior to NIE training, as well as during the school teaching practice components of the NIE programmes. In addition, senior staff of the Ministry Headquarters will be selected to supplement the training resources both at NIE and in schools as necessary. They will assume teaching roles for a fixed term in NIE either as full-time trainers or as NIE adjunct lecturers for selected subject modules.

7 An intensive media publicity campaign will be launched to increase public awareness of teaching as a challenging and rewarding career. Two public seminars will be conducted on Sat 22 August and Sat 5 September 98 to reach out to potential applicants.

8 Applications for teaching positions are open all year round. To be considered for the January 1999 PGDE programme, applications should be sent in by end-Sept 1998. Application packages may be obtained from the lobby of MOE Headquarters at Kay Siang Road, Singapore 248922, through the 24-hour automated telephone Hotline at 1800- 840 8585, and through the MOE Internet website at http://www.moe.edu.sg/teach.