Over 3,000 teachers hired

THE Ministry of Education has recruited more than 3,000 teachers and 680 allied educators by June - exceeding the targets that it had earlier set.

Although the ministry has stepped up hiring this year, Education Minister Ng Eng Hen assured that it will continue to be rigorous in the selection of teachers and allied educators, ensuring that only those with the passion, aptitude and commitment are selected.

Going forward, he said MOE will continue to recruit good teachers for the service and also continually develop the existing pool of teachers to keep them abreast of the latest innovations in education practices and concepts, and help them lift their professional excellence.

Speaking at a National Insitute of Education (NIE) teachers' investiture ceremony on Monday, Dr Ng also announced that MOE is offering postgraduate scholarships to 51 Education Officers to pursue their Master's degree or PhD at local and overseas universities.

In his speech, the minister said Singapore teachers are well regarded internationally and its education system has been held up as a model of succcess by other countries, inlcuding the UK and United States.

Turning to the recommendations by the Primary Education Review and Implementation (PERI) committee, which include recruiting all graduate teachers by 2015, Dr Ng said these will have profound impact on primary school education.

'The key to making all these happen will be our teachers. Our education system will need quality educators to lead and effect changes in an evolving environment,' he said.

On teacher training, he said the continuing challenge for NIE is to strengthen the nexus between theory and practice, and urged the institute to find more effective ways to provide practical learning experiences for student teachers.

'It should strengthen the role of mentorship provided during the practicum and induction periods,' added Dr Ng.

'NIE will need to review and enhance the pedagogical methods and assessment that are aligned with our desired outcomes of education and to train new teachers to equip our students with the knowledge, skills and values for the 21st century classrooms.'

- The Straits Times