Teacher Effectiveness in Singapore

Abstract

Singapore is an island city-state located at the southernmost tip of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Although one of the smallest countries in the world by landmass, it has an outsized record for educational excellence as evidenced by consistently high rankings on indicators of international comparison. While no single measure is indicative of educational quality, the Singapore education system is unquestionably effective. In this chapter, the quality and effectiveness of teachers are explored, beginning with a brief history of Singaporean education and then an overview of three defining characteristics of the Singapore education system as related to teacher quality. Then, the chapter presents a career-spanning perspective on teaching in Singapore from entry to pre-service preparation to induction, continuous professional learning, and career advancement. Throughout, a prevailing theme is evident: the value placed on teacher quality is an intentional, strategic feature of the Singaporean system, at the core of which is valuing teachers as learners and innovators.