SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Education (MOE) is committed to protecting teachers from unreasonable demands that could harm their well-being, as announced on Wednesday (Sept 18). MOE emphasized the need to establish clear boundaries regarding what educators are expected to do and what should not fall within their responsibilities.

Education Minister Mr. Chan highlighted that teachers should not feel obligated to respond to work-related communications beyond school hours, except in emergencies. “Teachers start their day around 7.30am,” he stated, adding that outside regular hours, particularly after 5pm, they shouldn’t have to reply to non-urgent messages such as questions about trivial matters like a student’s attire for the next day.

To further protect their personal time, teachers are advised to communicate with parents using official channels like school emails and office numbers. Mr. Chan discouraged teachers from sharing personal phone numbers with parents to avoid being disturbed at all hours. These measures are intended to allow teachers to focus on their work during school hours and have uninterrupted time to rest and care for their families afterward.

Additionally, Mr. Chan announced further steps to streamline teachers’ non-teaching duties. Starting in 2026, schools will have the autonomy to decide whether to continue offering both the Applied Learning Programme (ALP) and Learning for Life Programme (LLP) or to focus on just one. This change will provide schools the flexibility to prioritize manpower and reduce workload.

The ALP emphasizes critical thinking and the practical application of knowledge in subjects like design and robotics, while the LLP fosters experiential learning that develops students’ character through activities like outdoor education and sports. Both programmes, introduced to diversify learning experiences, are now being reviewed to reduce pressure on educators.

Ongoing efforts by MOE to cut down administrative duties have already reduced teachers’ exam-related tasks by 10%. Further reductions are expected with the introduction of the Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate in 2027, which will streamline exam sessions and lower invigilation duties by up to 15%.

MOE will also implement new technologies to lighten the load. For instance, starting in 2025, parents will be able to submit medical certificates for their children via the Parents Gateway platform. This process will be piloted in 10 schools in the first term of 2025 and gradually rolled out to all schools by the end of that year.

Mr. Chan urged educators to embrace a mindset of striving for excellence, rather than chasing perfection. He encouraged teachers to prioritize their efforts and not be overwhelmed by the need to excel in all aspects at once. “We are not superhuman,” he said, reminding teachers that prioritizing tasks benefits both them and their students.