Over 37,000 Ministry of Education (MOE) teachers, allied educators, and kindergarten teachers will get a 5 to 10 percent increase in their monthly salary from October 1, according to MOE. In a press release last August 16, MOE said that 35,000 education officers, 1,600 allied educators, and 800 preschool teachers in MOE-run kindergartens will receive the pay bumps.
The salaries for teachers and allied educators were previously reviewed in 2015, while the scheme for preschool teachers in MOE-run kindergartens was last introduced in 2019. MOE’s current move will ensure that the educators’ overall salary packages remain competitive, so that it can continue to attract and retain good educators.
Aside from this, the 30-year retention plan for teachers will also be enhanced. Moreover, teachers who do not hold key personnel appointments could also be eligible for a higher salary ceiling from next year, with the introduction of a general education officer (GEO) 5A substantive grade.
ENHANCED RETENTION PLAN
MOE’s 30-year retention plan for education officers, also known as the CONNECT Plan, will also be enhanced by about 20% from next year. Currently, a flat rate quantum between $3,200 and $8,320 is set aside for officers each year. The amount depends on their length of service. Payouts comprising a portion of the money accumulated are given every 3 to 5 years of their career.
From 2023, MOE said that the annual deposit quantum and payout ratio will be increased to better support the education officers in the earlier years of their career.
NEW SALARY GRADE
To better recognize the contributions of well-performing teachers who do not hold key personnel appointments (e.g., subject head or senior teacher), MOE will also establish a new general education officer (GEO) 5A substantive grade from 2023.
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MOE highlights that “teachers are the core of our education system”, which is why the Ministry will continue to provide opportunities for educators to learn and develop themselves throughout their careers.
“This includes providing in-service courses to help teachers deepen their content mastery and pedagogy, as well as exposing teachers to diverse experiences outside the classroom through external work attachments,” said the Ministry.
Last year, the Parliament brought the 2028 Digital Learning Device plan to 2021. All secondary school students will be equipped with a digital learning device by the end of 2021. This initiative aims to improve the digital literacy of today’s children.
Not only will the devices enhance their learning experience, but also support the Ministry’s plan to implement the Blended Learning. The Ministry plans to implement Blended Learning in all secondary schools, junior colleges, and the Millennia Institute in Term 3 of 2021. The Blended Learning incorporates the regularly scheduled home-based learning (HBL) days.
The digital learning devices will support the virtual lesson plans and allow the teachers to personalize the students’ learning experience.
EDUSAVE AND DIGITAL LEARNING DEVICES
According to the Ministry of Education (MOE), payment for these devices will be covered through Edusave. The Government added a S$200 top-up in April 2020. This will total to about S$75 million.
Those who need financial assistance will receive help. Students who come from lower-income households will get further subsidies to ensure that their out-of-pocket cost is S$0.
EDUCATION AS A GREAT EQUALIZER
One of the biggest issues to solve on a global level are class divisions. Singapore is not immune to this. Thus, MOE promised that students from lower-income households will not be disadvantaged.
Moreover, the MOE is making investments by setting up the National Institute of Early Childhood Development. We all know how important early childhood is to a person’s life.
DIGITAL LEARNING DEVICE UPDATES (Disclaimer: Some secondary school students may be given different learning devices apart from Apple iPads.)
MARCH 2021
Riverside Secondary School previously posted that their Secondary 2 students received their personal learning devices. The iPad came with an Apple Pencil and a Logitech keyboard case to allow students to fully utilize their tablet for their learning.
Yuhua Secondary School students received their brand-new personal devices and could not hide their excitement behind their masks. Since the sole purpose of the tablets is education, a device management software was installed. Students will not be able to play games such as PUBG during their lectures.
Kicking off the month of April is the new educational structure advised by Education Minister Ong Ye Kung. Last Friday, he highlighted that all schools will conduct one day of home-based learning in light of the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Singapore. This re-structuring will help prepare the parents and students if more days of home-based learning will be necessary.
Primary schools will conduct home-based learning o Wednesdays, Secondary schools will apply ths on Thursdays. The rest of the institutes will be having it on Fridays. These social distancing efforts are on top of the enrichment and tuition centers’ closure. The question on the parents’ minds now is: “What will the children do all day?”
The key to extending the learning at home is to make a routine. Students are used to following a schedule. Mimic this blueprint by creating a distinct schedule to help the continuous flow of their home-based education day. The goal is to keep your children busy as you tend to other matters.
TIP #1: FOLLOW THE ADVISE OF THE TEACHERS
As teachers will be giving their assignments through emails and other platforms, you may start the day with those modules. Study time may last from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. Allow heavy subjects and academic assignments to be engraved during this block of time.
TIP #2: DEDICATE A BLOCK FOR PLAY
Allow your children to have at least 15 to 30 minutes of time of dedicated child-led play. Provide materials that will cater to their interests and allow them to play. When a child is playing, it stimulates different facets such as imagination, creativity, innovation, and socialization. You may provide a bin filled with educational toys and art materials. Serious learning can take place while having fun.
TIP #3: SCHEDULE A TIME FOR READING
Being at home all day gives you a chance to increase the child’s habit of reading. Gather your books at home or download free books online. Schedule at least 20 minutes of reading time per day to engrave the importance of reading. Remember that this block is the total amount of minutes. You may break it apart throughout the day. In the first half, you may be the only one talking. The adult will read the book aloud for the child. As the day ends, you may let your child to read the same book by himself or herself. Do not worry if your child wants to extend the reading block! Reading is beneficial for your child’s language proficiency and vocabulary expansion.
TIP #4: SPARE SOME TIME FOR GROOMING AND SELF-HELP SKILLS
As an educator, I believe that children learn best through experiences. Let your child experience household chores to learn more about responsibility and self-reliance. Assign 10 to 15 minutes of time for household chores and other self-help activities. Guide your child as they clean their rooms, sweep the floors, wash the dishes, or fold the clothes. They can use these skills as they grow up. More importantly, those are less tasks for you to fill.
TIP #5: ALLOT A BLOCK FOR SCREEN TIME
Whether we admit it or not, technology has been a part of our children’s lives. Hence, it is better to adapt and to limit their usage. Keep your children from “over-indulging” on the screens by having a set time in the schedule for screen time. Ideally adults should limit the children’s use of screen time to two hours per day. For instance, you may allow 30 to 45 minutes of screen time before breakfast and after dinner. Follow through the scheduled time by turning the devices and appliances off afterwards. If the house feels too quiet, turn on some delightful music instead.
TIP #6: ALLOW YOUR CHILDREN TO MOVE
It is easy to put down toys for free play. However, children enjoy it when you get to bond with them as you facilitate some indoor activities. A great way to entertain your children while practicing educational skills is to schedule some easy indoor activities. You may plan at least 30 minutes of this category before snack time or before dinner time.
Here are some of the ideas for your indoor play:
a. Build A City: Flatten out a box. Draw a round using markers and paint. Add blocks and other toy vehicles to let your child build his or her own city.
b. Backhand Balloon Balance: Challenge your children to balance a balloon on the back of their hand. See how long they can do it before it falls to the ground. Amp up the stakes by putting water inside the balloon.
c. Long Jump: Put some lines of masking tape or colored electric tape on the floor. Make 6 separate lines of tape, which are one foot apart. Label the first line as the “Starting” line. See how many lines your children can jump over. Have them beat their best score each round. You may even let them jump backwards!
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May you entertain your children while staying safe! 🙂
