Over the next few years, Singapore will hire more than 1,000 new educators annually to strengthen the teaching fraternity, Education Minister Desmond Lee said on July 9.
This is up from about 700 teachers recruited a year previously.
Overall, the number of teachers in Singapore has fallen due to a slowdown in recruitment, dropping from 33,378 in 2016 to 30,396 in 2023. This is due to smaller cohort sizes.
The Education Ministry has not released the figure for 2024. The ministry said in a statement on July 9 that its hiring strategy supports long-term workforce sustainability and talent acquisition.
This includes hiring in anticipation of more retirements in the coming years as the teaching workforce ages, in line with national workforce trends, it added.
Speaking at the annual Teachers’ Investiture Ceremony at the National Institute of Education (NIE) in Nanyang Technological University, Mr Lee said: “Through the years, we have built a committed and high-quality teaching force to ensure that every child has the opportunity to realise his or her potential, regardless of starting point in life.”
The education system must do more than keep pace with rapid and fundamental changes, he said, from advancements in artificial intelligence to climate change, to social media platforms transforming the way young people communicate.
“We must also stay updated on the developments around us, and prepare our students for a fast-changing world,” he said.
On July 9, NIE marked the graduation of 721 new and returning teachers joining Singapore’s education service.
Of the cohort, 47 graduands were given awards such as the Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal and the NIE Award. These are given to those who have performed well in their studies.
Seven teachers under the age of 35 were awarded the Outstanding Youth in Education Award for their impact in nurturing their students.
The Straits Times
