Working in an education section is often perceived as a rewarding and meaningful career. As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. After all, those in this sector are responsible for ensuring that today’s youth are not only equipped with the knowledge to shape a better future, but also the values and skills that will help them become better people in the long run.

With this in mind, Singapore’s education system is constantly adapting and improving, and works to ensure that no child is left behind, regardless of circumstance. This responsibility falls to the Ministry of Education (MOE). As of 2022, it has over 60,000 people under its employment working in a variety of different, yet rewarding roles.

Career Overview

Graduates interested in this sector will have opportunities to teach students ranging from primary school to junior college, as well as from adult learners to students with special needs. However, take note that no matter your qualifications – whether it’s a degree or diploma – you’ll have to attend the National Institute of Education (NIE) to earn either a Bachelor of Arts in Education, or a Post Graduate Diploma in Education before you can be accepted as a teacher.

Likewise, for those who wish to work as a kindergarten teacher, graduates will have to undergo MOE’s Kindergarten Teacher Training Programme (MKTPP) if they don’t have the required early childhood qualifications.

On the other hand, if you don’t wish to be a teacher but still want to join this sector, there are plenty of non-teaching roles within MOE as well. This includes allied educators (who provide learning and behaviour support to special needs students), administrative staff (who keep schools running and on budget) and counsellors (who help with students’ mental well-being). Beyond schools, there are also those who work at MOE’s HQ, with roles like curriculum developer, who plan and implement Singapore’s nationwide curriculum.

Required Skills

While traits like patience and passion are highly valued here, you’ll also need a variety of skills if you want to succeed in this sector. For example, time management is needed to efficiently use lesson time to its fullest.

Interpersonal and communication skills are also extremely vital, not only when teaching, but also in classroom and stakeholder management, where the expectations of students and parents alike must be managed.

Creativity is also another valued trait, whether as a teacher or a public officer working behind the scenes, as there’s always a need to come up with novel and fresh ideas on how to impart knowledge to students effectively.

Pros and Cons

For most non-teaching roles, employees in the education sector can expect to enjoy the benefits received by public officers, such as a stable work-life balance. However, it’s a little different for those in teaching roles.

Although teachers enjoy similar holiday times as students (so long as their services aren’t required), they’ll find that working long hours during term time to be fairly common. Apart from allocating time to grade assignments and prepare lesson plans, teachers in Singapore also have to handle other administrative matters, with all of this taking up about 46 hours a week, according to the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS).

That being said, all teachers under MOE are entitled to 100 hours of professional development per year, and can take up additional courses at NIE to bolster their teaching skills. In addition to this, they are also able to receive bonuses under the CONNECT Plan, which rewards teachers for their commitment with payouts once every 3-5 years.

Of course, there are personal benefits as well. You’ll also find yourself working alongside dedicated, like-minded people with the same passions as you towards education, and for some, being able to work alongside their own teachers can be a big motivator as well. But ultimately, it's often the rewarding experience of contributing to the educational welfare of Singapore that drives those in the industry to go above and beyond their duties.