Smaller classes, streamlined teacher duties among ideas MOE will pilot in 6 schools

Education Minister Desmond Lee announced a pilot program in six Singapore schools to explore innovative approaches to classrooms and teacher roles. The six schools include St Anthony's Canossian Primary, Woodgrove Primary, Zhangde Primary, Commonwealth Secondary, Deyi Secondary, and Jurongville Secondary. Lee stated that the pilot will examine whether smaller classes or streamlined teacher duties can have the greatest impact on teaching and learning.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) aims to create a more tailored learning environment by potentially reducing class sizes for individual students who require more attention. However, Lee emphasized that smaller classes do not necessarily translate to less work for teachers. In fact, it could lead to teachers taking on more teaching duties, akin to practices observed in other countries.

The government cannot simply hire additional teachers due to its limited workforce, and any increase must be sustainable and not compromise quality.

In addition to class size, MOE will investigate streamlining teachers' responsibilities outside the classroom. This could involve allowing teachers to focus on two of three areas – form teachership, co-curricular activities (CCAs), and committee work. By reducing the constant switching between responsibilities, teachers would have more time and mental bandwidth to dedicate to their core teaching roles.

MOE also plans to explore delegating certain school tasks to external partners, non-teaching staff, coaches, and instructors while retaining teachers' roles in overseeing holistic student development programs, such as CCAs. By tapping into various resources, MOE aims to free up more time for teachers to focus on teaching.

To support these changes, MOE will introduce the Teacher Workspace platform to all schools by 2027. This platform will streamline communication and support coordination between teachers, parents, and partners, while also incorporating artificial intelligence and other capabilities to reduce manual work.

Lee emphasized that MOE will carefully assess the pilot's outcomes before considering broader implementation. The government aims to ensure that any changes lead to improved learning outcomes and a more sustainable teaching environment. The pilot will be closely monitored, with updates shared with schools and the public to foster transparency and gather feedback.