NIE teacher training for degree holders to be reduced from 16 months to a year: Desmond Lee

SINGAPORE - Teacher training for university graduates will be reduced from 16 months to a year, as part of efforts to better support educators and attract more talent.

The shorter length of training is the result of an ongoing review by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and National Institute of Education of the 16-month Postgraduate Diploma in Education programme to meet the learning needs of an increasingly diverse teaching force.

The review of teacher preparation programmes aims to strengthen professional support for educators and give them more room to customise their learning, said newly minted Education Minister Desmond Lee on June 3.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Education programme, funded by MOE, is a full-time programme that equips degree holders with teaching skills for Singapore schools.

Going forward, it will have a stronger focus on integrating theory and practical application, said Mr Lee, and new teachers can expect more avenues to hone their teaching skills in the classroom after graduation.

Addressing about 2,000 educators at the Teachers’ Conference and ExCEL Fest 2025, held at the Singapore Expo, Mr Lee said new teachers will have more flexibility and autonomy to shape their learning, both during their training and when they enter schools.

The event is organised by MOE every two years to bring educators together to share insights and learning practices as a fraternity. This year’s edition is from June 3 to June 5.

“We envision a more flexible approach where all teachers will take core learning components that are essential to teaching, while they can choose elective learning components based on their needs and interests,” he said.

“In this way, our new teachers will continue to be well prepared for your roles, and we can better cater to your diverse backgrounds and learning needs.”

More details will be given once the review is complete, said Mr Lee.

Students currently enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma in Education programme will not be affected by the review, said MOE.

A ministry spokesman said about 390 student teachers enrolled in the programme yearly from 2022 to 2024. Each cohort has a mix of fresh graduates and mid-career individuals.

Teachers are the influencers of every generation, Mr Lee added. “While technology and AI (artificial intelligence) can enhance teaching and learning, it can never replace what you bring to the classroom – your knowledge, experience and care for your students.”

He said MOE will support teachers in three key areas: growing professional capabilities, attracting diverse talent, and partnering stakeholders and the community.

The ministry will provide teachers with opportunities to keep updated on developments in their subject areas and in the field of education.

Educators can also go on stints beyond the education context, such as through the

Teacher Work Attachment Plus programme.

Since its introduction in 2022, teachers have joined 3,800 learning journeys and 700 work attachments.

“Whether through learning journeys or short-term work attachments, you can step out of your classrooms to gain fresh perspectives and understand the latest developments across various industries. You then bring valuable real-world insights back to your students and colleagues,” said Mr Lee.

And to provide more time and space for learning, MOE is finding new ways to manage teachers’ administrative workloads.

These include piloting procurement approaches to make it easier to organise cohort camps and make small-value purchases. Mr Lee said this will be rolled out to more schools when ready.

By end-2025, teachers will no longer need to manually track and collate absentee records, as parents will submit documents directly through the Parents Gateway app.

MOE is committed to growing and strengthening the teaching profession, said Mr Lee.

“In addition to our efforts to retain good teachers, we are also redoubling our efforts to attract individuals with sound values and the right motivations to join our fraternity,” he added.

The ministry welcomes teachers with different life experiences and skills, such as mid-career individuals.

With greater diversity, newer teachers benefit from the wisdom and practical strategies of experienced educators, and seasoned educators gain fresh insights to enrich their perspectives and competencies.

“This dynamic exchange strengthens our fraternity, which will benefit and enrich our students’ learning and growth,” said Mr Lee.

Education extends well beyond the school, he added. This means that partnering others in the community, like parents and alumni, is essential to helping students grow, he said.

“Collaboration with industry, social service agencies and other community partners opens windows into the world beyond school for our students. They can help our students learn how to navigate real-world challenges and better understand societal needs,” he added.

Preparing students for a changing world

In his speech, Mr Lee said the changing world raises fundamental questions for educators about preparing students for an uncertain future.

“We are witnessing seismic shifts in the global landscape – from a fragmenting global order where peace can no longer be taken for granted, to a fragile economic order with the rising tide of protectionism,” he said.

Technology and AI are transforming how people work, live and learn, and social media has democratised access to information while half-truths and untruths have proliferated.

He added that societal tensions and climate change, if not addressed properly, will also be threats.

These issues raise important questions on what aptitudes and skills students need to thrive in this complex world, and how educators can help them to build these up, said Mr Lee.

Beyond strong fundamentals in literacy, numeracy and subject matter knowledge, he said students will need to develop new competencies.

These include the ability to discern critically and think creatively, to communicate and collaborate across cultures and diverse perspectives, and to apply knowledge to real-world challenges.

“More importantly, they will need a strong set of values as their moral compass to navigate this uncertainty and complexity,” said Mr Lee, adding that teachers play an important role in the process of developing these values.