Teacher Learning and Development in Singapore: A Career-Long Perspective

Abstract

A teacher in Singapore is accorded the high status of a nation-builder, who are seen as professionals with the vital role of preparing the young to meet the demands and challenges of living and working in the 21st century. Accordingly, teacher recruitment, preparation and professional development are highly prioritized in the nation’s educational agenda. Teachers are recruited from amongst the top performers of their cohort and given such strict selection criteria, heavy investments are made to rigorously prepare them with the requisite competencies they need to function as beginning teachers. Teacher preparation and career-long professional development of in-service teachers is carried out in partnership with education stakeholders and is underpinned by evidence-informed policy formulation and translation into practice through the tight and coherent partnership. This is evident in the underlying models, frameworks, philosophies and policies that are enacted throughout a teacher’s career. The aim is to ensure that the teachers adhere to the highest ethical standards, and possess a sense of professionalism and a commitment towards career-long development. The premium placed on recruiting, preparing and developing high-quality teachers in Singapore is underpinned by the belief that teachers lie at the heart of the nation’s educational success. Teachers need to be empowered so that they can continually give of their best in order to secure the future of Singapore.

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Joseph Lim Junqi, Janey Ng Wee Leng and Jarrod Tam Chun Peng for their inputs in an earlier draft of the article. The authors also thank the Ministry of Education of Singapore and the Academy of Singapore Teachers for granting permission to re-produce the various images cited herein.