More primary school teachers specialising in two subjects: MOE

SINGAPORE – The deployment of primary school teachers is undergoing a significant change, as more make the switch to teaching just two subjects. The Ministry of Education (MOE) said the move towards dual subject specialisation aims to free up time for teachers to plan richer and more engaging lessons.

Since late 2015, the MOE has been working with schools to assign specialisations to teachers – taking into account a teacher’s strengths and the school’s operational needs.

The change – which will be gradually phased in over the next few years – allows teachers to choose from four combinations: English and Social Studies, English and Maths, English and Science, or Maths and Science.

Ms Elizabeth Wok, for example, switched to specialising in two subjects this year. The Lianhua Primary School teacher now specialises in Mathematics and Science, and she also teaches a Primary 4 class, instead of just her form class at Primary 6.

Ms Wok told Channel NewsAsia that dual subject specialisation is good because it has allowed her to experience “different classes, different levels”, which she may not have experienced otherwise.

Specialisation also allows her to focus on her strengths, instead of teaching subjects that she was not specifically trained in, like music and physical education (PE). “When I first started teaching, in 2007, we had to teach English, Maths, Science, PE and art, and sometimes music, depending on the year,” explained Ms Wok.

MORE TIME TO REFLECT ON PEDAGOGY

With the change, Ms Wok has a less hectic schedule – with six fewer periods this year – and she said that this means more time for marking and to reflect on her teaching methods.

For example, to make learning more practical and interactive, she used paper airplanes to help her teach students about friction and weight. “Previously, we just took them to the (computer) labs… (which is) not as engaging compared to making a paper plane and throwing it,” she said.

Schools are encouraged to deploy teachers to their specialisations at P5 and P6 first, before extending it to other levels, according to the MOE. The ministry also said it hopes teachers will be able to deepen their content mastery and pedagogical skills, to prepare more engaging lessons that better cater to students’ needs and learning styles.

In addition, short courses are available for teachers who want to strengthen their professional competencies in their chosen specialisations.

For instance, Ms Zalina Zakariah-Ismael, a teacher specialising in English and Science, took a three-month Advanced Diploma course to sharpen her pedagogical skills in English.

The Telok Kurau Primary School teacher said she picked up interesting techniques from the course. “For example, we can go into character, where we come dressed as Harry Potter with a wand,” she said. “It also engages the students and it sets the context for them, so it helps a lot, especially in writing.”

The MOE added that from December next year, all newly-recruited primary school English-medium teachers pursuing the post-graduate diploma in Education (PGDE) will be trained to teach two subjects. CHANNEL NEWSASIA