The Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Monday that the move is intended intended to keep overall salary packages competitive and to help it “continue to attract and retain good educators,” according to a press release.
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A man walks past signage for the Yale-NUS College in Singapore on October 14, 2019. Photo by AFP |
The pay rise will apply to roughly 33,000 education officers, 1,700 allied educators and 1,100 MOE Kindergarten educators.
“The salary adjustment for each substantive grade is determined based on the size of the salary gap with the corresponding market benchmark at each grade,” an MOE spokesperson said in response to Channel News Asia’s queries.
In addition to periodic revisions, eligible officers have received and will continue to receive annual merit increments tied to performance, the spokesperson added.
Salaries for education officers, allied educators and MOE Kindergarten educators were last reviewed in 2022.
“Teachers are the core of our education system,” MOE said. “Beyond the salary adjustments, MOE will continue to provide opportunities for our officers to learn and develop throughout the course of their career.”
The Singapore Teachers’ Union (STU) welcomed the announcement.
“STU has long called for a comprehensive review of teacher pay, and we are pleased to see this long-awaited step forward,” it said in a Facebook post.
“While the 2% to 9% adjustments are a necessary recognition of the gaps with market benchmarks, salary revision alone is not sufficient,” STU said.
It added that MOE should take a broader view of total compensation – including allowances, career progression and benefits – to ensure the profession remains attractive and sustainable.
“More can and should be done to reduce non-core administrative tasks so that teachers can focus on what matters most: the holistic development of our students.”
Darryl David, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Education, said the salary review for educators was timely, given the current economic climate defined by cost-of-living pressures, according to The Straits Times.
“The current increment is a necessary, supportive gesture for teachers that aligns realistically with market inflation,” he added.
