Staff affected by upheaval to receive support and training
A classroom at Serangoon Junior College, one of the schools affected by the merger in 2019. Senior Minister of State for Education Dr Janil Puthucheary assured that affected staff will be given support and not be retrenched. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — Staff affected by school mergers will be supported and teachers who are redeployed to levels they have not previously taught at will be given training.
Senior Minister of State for Education Dr Janil Puthucheary gave this assurance yesterday to teachers who could be affected by the upheaval.
For example, a secondary teacher could be re-deployed to a primary and a junior college teacher may have to switch to a secondary or primary.
Such teachers will undergo courses on content knowledge and pedagogical skills to teach at a different level. They can be attached to their new schools before formal postings begin and the Ministry of Education (MOE) will continue to support them through engagement sessions after their postings, Dr Puthucheary said.
Some teachers may also move to MOE headquarters and work in areas such as developing infocomm technology learning resources for students.The Ministry has assured staff affected by mergers that they will not be retrenched. Tampines GRC Member of Parliament Desmond Choo asked in Parliament yesterday how staff could be prepared for school mergers.
Dr Puthucheary acknowleged mergers are unsettling for staff, and said they are engaged on deployment plans and manpower needs of the merged school. They are given time to explore options through the ministry’s internal posting exercise.
Schools that receive redeployed teachers will pair them with a buddy or mentor. The ministry encourages schools to adjust the workload of cross-deployed teachers in the first year, where possible, he added.
Asked by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Leon Perera if workers such as laboratory technicians and canteen operators would receive help, Dr Puthucheary said the ministry would ensure that all staff have opportunities.
