Desmond Lee on how MOE is helping teachers ease their workload

Key Concepts

• Teacher Workload
• OECD TALIS Study
• Teacher Recruitment
• Allied Educators (Counselors, Senc Officers, Administrators, Vendors)
• School Resources
• Holistic Teaching
• 21st Century Competencies
• Co-Curricular Activities (CCA)
• Character and Citizenship Education (CCE)

Teacher Workload and Mitigation Strategies

The discussion centers on addressing teacher workload, acknowledging that this is a multifaceted issue. While the OECD's Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) is a recognized external benchmark, the organization also conducts its own regular internal reviews to identify and address specific areas of workload.

Key Mitigation Measures:

• Increased Teacher Recruitment: A significant measure announced in July of the current year is the ramp-up in teacher recruitment. This aims to directly increase the number of teaching staff.
• Delegation of Responsibilities: Over the years, there has been a strategic shift of certain responsibilities away from teachers. These tasks are now being handled by a broader range of allied educators, including:
  • Counselors
  • Senc Officers (Special Education Needs Coordinators/Officers)
  • Administrators
  • Vendors
• Provision of School Resources: Schools are being equipped with resources to engage external vendors. This allows schools to outsource specific activities and administrative tasks, thereby alleviating pressure on teachers.

These measures are presented as direct responses to a "deeper understanding of the issues that the teachers face." The commitment is to continue this work and implement further measures to "allow our teachers that space to teach."

The Evolving Nature of Teaching

The transcript highlights that teaching today is "a lot more holistic" than in the past. This evolution means that the role of a teacher extends beyond traditional in-classroom instruction of core or "hard" subjects.

Elements of Holistic Teaching:

• Infusion of 21st Century Competencies: Even in the teaching of "hard subjects," there is an intentional integration of 21st-century competencies. This is achieved through various pedagogical approaches, including:
  • Field trips
  • Project-based studies
• Integration of Values and CCE: Values education and Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) are being infused into subjects where appropriate, further broadening the scope of teaching.
• Beyond the Classroom: The holistic nature of teaching is no longer confined to the classroom. It now encompasses:
  • Co-Curricular Activities (CCA)
  • Character and Citizenship Education (CCE)

Conclusion

The organization is actively engaged in understanding and mitigating teacher workload through a combination of increased staffing, strategic delegation of non-teaching duties to allied professionals and vendors, and the provision of resources to schools. This proactive approach is driven by a commitment to enabling teachers to focus on their core pedagogical roles. Furthermore, the definition of teaching itself is expanding to embrace a more holistic approach, integrating 21st-century skills and values education both within and beyond the traditional classroom setting.