Recruitment and Retention of Teachers in Singapore

Abstract

This article examines how Singapore recruits and retains its teachers. It describes the two main sponsored pathways to becoming a teacher in Singapore including an overview of the key components of initial teacher education training programs, which are all delivered by Singapore’s world renown National Institute of Education of Nanyang Technological University. Singapore has well-developed support and development programs for its teachers and schools. This includes professional development programs, a cluster school model, and career development and pathways for teachers. While Singapore’s teachers face challenges such as workload, pressure to deliver results from parents and students, and administration, they perhaps do not encounter the unruly student behavior teachers in some other countries may have to cope with. This can be attributed to the disciplined nature of the country.