Education ministry to hire over 1,000 new teachers annually

This aims to boost the teaching workforce.

The Ministry of Education plans to hire over 1,000 new educators annually over the next few years to support the growth of the teaching fraternity, said Education Minister Desmond Lee.

“In addition to strengthening the teaching profession, we must also stay updated on the developments around us and prepare our students for a fast-changing world,” Lee said in his speech at the National Institute of Education Teachers' Investiture Ceremony.

Lee pointed to rapid advancements in automation, artificial intelligence, and climate change as examples of how the world is shifting.

“As a teacher, you prepare the next generation to focus on the importance of sustainability and climate change,” he said.

Lee also highlighted that the education system must do more than keep pace with these rapid and fundamental changes.

“We must future-proof our next generation and prepare our students to ride these waves of change and shape the future,” he said. “As educators, you are central to this important mission.”

Furthermore, Lee reiterated that academic performance is no longer the sole priority.

“What truly matters is our students' capacity for sound judgement and reasoning, their socio-emotional competencies, and their core values that will be their guideline in life,” he said.

This shift has led to the removal of mid-year exams and the introduction of Full Subject-Based Banding, which gives students more flexibility to learn at their own pace and according to their interests.

“But these system-level changes must be supported by learning experiences in school that not only help our students discover their unique strengths and interests but also ignite a deep and lasting joy for learning,” Lee said.