SINGAPORE — Even though the overall resignation rate for the entire teacher population was low at around 2 to 3 per cent over the past decade, the resignation rate for those in the first five years of service is slightly higher, averaging at about 3 to 4 per cent a year in the same period.
Usually, there would be an “uptick” in the resignation rate to about 5 per cent for teachers when their bonds end.
Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary revealed these figures in Parliament on Monday (Nov 7), adding that workload was not commonly cited as a factor by teachers who leave, and the main reasons for resignations were related to issues such as childcare and the desire to switch profession.
He was responding to questions from Members of Parliament (MPs) — Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap, and Non-Constituency MP Daniel Goh — who were concerned about teachers leaving the service.
Recognising that teaching is a demanding profession that requires significant commitment and deep skills, Dr Puthucheary told the House that the Education Ministry (MOE) ensures the teachers are “fairly remunerated” and provided with opportunities to grow in their careers, and it also takes care of their welfare.
Schools also regularly review work areas that may be stopped if they are no longer relevant or meaningful, or they are simplified to reduce duplication and optimise efforts, he said. Good practices are shared to improve work management as well, he added.
When asked by Associate Professor Goh on whether teachers have given feedback about workload in the annual teacher satisfaction survey, Dr Puthucheary said that administration overheads were an issue, but the ministry is putting in place IT solutions to address this.
Efforts are ongoing to provide teachers with professional development, with MOE working to ensure that every teacher has at least 100 hours of professional development each year.
On the teacher satisfaction survey, Dr Puthucheary noticed a “striking point”: A big group of teachers felt that the value and respect accorded to them was reducing.
“And yet, this would not stop them continuing within the teaching profession, and they found this a very meaningful profession,” he said.
