โดยในแต่ละปี เพื่อให้ครูเก่งขึ้นเรื่อย ๆ สิงคโปร์กำหนดให้ครูต้องอบรมปีละ 100 ชั่วโมง ทั้งที่สถาบัน NIE หรือสถาบัน Academy of Singapore Teachers เพื่ออัปเดตทักษะและความรู้ของตัวเองอย่างต่อเนื่อง
Singapore: Investing Heavily in Teachers—High Salaries and Bonuses for National Prosperity /By Longtunman
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“Education will determine the future of the Singaporean people.” These are the words of Lee Kuan Yew, the leader of Singapore who transformed the nation into a developed country within a single generation.
This statement isn't just a personal belief; it is a principle put into serious practice, especially regarding the development of "Teachers," who serve as the nation's pillars.
How does Singapore invest in teachers for the sake of education?
Longtunman will explain.
In the early stages after separating from Malaysia, Singapore focused on laying an educational foundation with a primary emphasis on using English as the medium of instruction.
However, Singapore knows well that the heart of education is the Teacher, who acts as the developer of students' skills and knowledge, enabling them to compete internationally.
In 1991, to make teacher training more systematic and clearer, Singapore established the National Institute of Education (NIE) within Nanyang Technological University.
This institute is responsible for preparing teachers before they enter the school system. It filters only the top 30% of academic performers from each cohort to be eligible for application, followed by another rigorous screening process.
Each year, only about 20% of all applicants are admitted to this institute. It is an incredibly intense selection process.
Despite the tough selection, Singapore prepares an incentive-based compensation system for those choosing the teaching profession.
For instance, during practicum (teaching practice), candidates receive a full salary. Upon starting their careers, the government sets a starting salary of approximately 3,800 SGD (around 97,000 Baht).
This salary is set at a level competitive with other professions to attract more talented individuals to teaching.
Beyond high starting pay and NIE's rigorous selection, Singaporean teachers have opportunities for additional income through other channels:
- Performance Bonuses: Teachers can receive bonuses based on their performance, which can be as high as 30% of their salary.
- Transparent Evaluation: Teachers and school leaders co-define goals. Meeting these goals triggers the bonus, ensuring a measurable and transparent system that motivates teachers to hit their annual targets.
To ensure teachers keep improving, Singapore requires them to undergo 100 hours of training per year at NIE or the Academy of Singapore Teachers to continuously update their skills.
To encourage teachers to focus on this career for the long haul, the government provides annual contribution funds. A portion of these funds is paid out to teachers every 3 to 5 years.
These contributions may include adjusted rates and additional interest. If a teacher remains in the profession for 30 years, the entirety of these contributions becomes theirs.
Furthermore, teachers aren't restricted to just teaching. The Singaporean government has mapped out different growth paths:
1. Teaching Track: For those who want to continue developing as expert educators.
2. Leadership Track: For those aspiring to move into school administration and management.
3. Senior Specialist Track: For those who prefer working with the Ministry of Education to develop national curricula.
Where does the money come from?
It is clear that Singapore has a great system for incentives and growth, but such a system requires massive funding. Providing high salaries, bonuses, and contribution funds creates a rising financial cost every year.
Singapore does not rely solely on taxpayer money. A significant portion comes from the Net Investment Returns Contribution (NIRC).
The government draws approximately 50% of the long-term expected returns from its sovereign wealth funds, such as GIC and Temasek, to fund various projects, including education.
Additionally, funds come from the National Productivity Fund, a key fund dedicated to increasing the country's competitive edge.
This competitiveness stems from high-quality citizens, and the starting point of human quality is found right inside the classroom.
In short, Singapore’s investment in teachers consists of both ample funding and a systematic development process.
It starts with a small point: by developing high-quality teachers, high-quality students naturally follow. These students then become the essential workforce for the nation's future.
The fruits of this investment might not be visible in a day or two. But over time, the power of compounding in this investment can create a massive transformation.
Just like Singapore, which invested in its people from day one, it has successfully turned itself into a world-class nation, despite being just a small dot on the global map.