Teacher education in Singapore: Charting new directions
Keywords:
Singapore education, globalisation, pedagogic changeAbstract
Singapore`s limited resources and need for extensive international engagement have privileged human capital development and thus made education a high policy priority to ensure its responsiveness and relevance. In three decades Singapore unified a fragmented teaching force, set high benchmarks for recruitment, preparation, deployment, and career development. Singapore`s present well-deserved reputation for educational quality, as represented in various international assessments of student achievement, can fairly be attributed to the quality of its teachers. Recognising the opportunities and challenges presented by globalisation, Singapore is seeking to transform its education system from an efficient, industrial era model into one more appropriate for the knowledge-economy. Major reforms are seeking to create more responsiveness to a variety of student needs, abilities and aspirations. There is now much more choice and multiple pathways, curriculum has been broadened, and assessment reforms are being considered. Recognising that such changes can only be successively implemented if teachers have both capacity and confidence, the Ministry has increased opportunities for professional upgrading while the National Institute of Education has redesigned the initial teacher preparation curriculum and introduced a new Masters in Teaching. A huge investment has also been made in education research to aid evidence informed policy and pedagogic change. In this paper we examine these changes in detail and assess prospects for successful and sustained change.
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References
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Sim, W. K., & Ho, W. K. (1990). 25 Years of teacher education. In J. S. K. Yip & S. W. Kooi (Eds.), Evolution of Educational Excellence: 25 Years of Education in the Republic of Singapore (pp. 183-199). Singapore: Longman Singapore Publishers.
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Soh, K. C. (2006). Promoting Action Research in Singapore Schools. New Horizons in Education, 53, 14.
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Tan, W. K., Macdonald, D., & Rossi, T. (2009). Educational action research in Singapore: to prove or improve? Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 29(3), 357-371.
Tang, N. (2000). Teachers' Network: A new approach in the professional development of teachers. ASCD Review, 9(3), 48-55.
Towndrow, P. A. (2005). Teachers as digital task designers: an agenda for research and professional development. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 37(5), 507-524.
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Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning as a social system Systems thinker Yanping, F., Lee, C. K.-E., & Haron, S. T. S. (2009). Implementation of lesson study in a primary school in Singapore. Paper presented at the Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference, 1-3 June 2009. Retrieved from http://conference.nie.edu.sg/2009/search/frame.php?id=SYM032b&isexitpaper=1
Yeap, B. H., & Ho, S. Y. (2009). Teacher change in an informal professional development programme: The 4-I model. In K. Y. Wong, L. P. Yee, B. Kaur, F. P. Yee & N. S. Fong (Eds.), Mathematics education: the Singapore journey (Vol. 2, pp. 130). Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Company.
Yeong, A. (2005, 31 May to 3 June 2006). The promise of the project work initiative in Singaporean education: A critical reflection. Paper presented at the Redesigning Pedagogy, Singapore.
Alexander, R. J. (2010). World class schools' - noble aspiration or globalised hokum? Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 40(6), 801 - 817.
Ball, D. L., & Cohen, D. K. (1999). Developing practice, developing practitioners: Towards a practice-based theory of professional development. In L. Darling-Hammond & S. Sykes (Eds.), Teaching as a learning profession: Handbook of policy and practice. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Barber, M., & Mourshed, M. (2007). How the World’s Best-Performing School Systems Come Out on Top. Dubai: McKinsey & Co.
Blase, J. (2009). The Role of Mentors of Preservice and Inservice Teachers. In L. J. Saha & A. G. Dworkin (Eds.), International Handbook of Research on Teachers and Teaching (Vol. 21, pp. 171-181). New York, USA: Springer US.
Borko, H. (2004). Professional development and teacher learning: Mapping the terrain. Educational Researcher, 33(8), 3-15.
Bryer, K. (2006, 21-26 May 2006). Pre-University Project Work in Singapore: An Alternative Mode of Assessment in Singapore. Paper presented at the 32nd Annual Conference of the International Association for Educational Assessment, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Singapore.
Chen, A. Y. (2010). Introduction to the Institute of Education (1973-1990). In A. Y. Chen & S. L. Koay (Eds.), Transforming Teaching, Inspiring Learning (pp. 51-57). Singapore National Institute of Education.
Chong, S., & Gopinathan, S. (2008). Teacher education in Singapore. In T. A. O‟Donoghue & C. Whitehead (Eds.), Teacher education in the english-speaking world: Past, present, and future (pp. 121-136). United States, Charlotte: Information Age Publishing.
Darling-Hammond, L. (2010). The flat world and education: How America's commitment to equity will determine our future. New York: Teachers College Press
Fang, Y., & Lee, C. K. (2010). Lesson Study and Instructional Improvement in Singapore. Retrieved 14 October 2011, from National Institute of Education: http://hdl.handle.net/10497/4392
Feiman-Nemser, S. (2003). What new teachers need to learn. Educational Leadership, 60(8), 25-29.
Gill, G. K. (2007). The Project Work enterprise in Singapore: Progression or regression? Paper presented at the AARE 2007 International Education Research Conference
Goh, C. T. (1997). Shaping our future: Thinking schools, learning nation. Speech by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong at the opening of the 7th International Conference on Thinking. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/1997/020697.htm.
Gopinathan, S. (1974). Towards a national system of education:1945 - 1973. Singapore: Oxford University Press.
Gopinathan, S., & Deng, Z. (2006). Fostering school based curriculum development in the context of new educational initiatives in Singapore. Planning & Changing, 37(3), 93110.
Gopinathan, S., & Ho, W. K. (2000). Teacher education in Singapore. In P. Morris & J. Williamson (Eds.), Teacher education in the Asia-Pacific region: A comparative study (pp. 199-225). New York: Falmer Press.
Gopinathan, S., & Sharpe, L. (2002). eacher education is the key: Professionalism and the strategic state. In E. Thomas (Ed.), Teacher education: Dilemmas and prospects (pp. 23-32). London: Kogan Page.
Guskey, T. R., & Huberman, M. (1995). Professional Development in Education: New Paradigms and Practices: Teachers College Press, 1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027 (paperback: ISBN-0-8077-3425-X; clothbound: ISBN-0-8077-34268).
Hammerness, K., Darling-Hammond, L., Bransford, J., Berliner, D., Cochran-Smith, M., McDonald, M., et al. (2005). How teachers learn and develop. In L. Darling-Hammond & J. Bransford (Eds.), Preparing teachers for a changing world: What teachers should learn and be able to do. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Hogan, D., & Gopinathan, S. (2008). Knowledge Management, sustainable innovation, and pre-service teacher education in Singapore. Teachers and Teaching: theory and practice, 14(4), 369-384.
Hung, D., Chee, T. S., Hedberg, J. G., & Thiam Seng, K. (2005). A framework for fostering a community of practice: Scaffolding learners through an evolving continuum. British Journal of Educational Technology, 36(2), 159-176.
IDA. (2010). Imagination Takes Flight. Retrieved 28 September 2011, 2011, from http://www.ida.gov.sg/About%20us/20100612161342.aspx
Kemmis, S. (2001). Exploring the relevance of critical theory for action research: Emancipatory action research in the footsteps of Juergen Habermas. In P. Reason & H. Bradbury (Eds.), Handbook of action research: Participatory inquiry and practice (pp. 91-102). London: SAGE.
Lee, H. L. (2004). Our future of opportunity and promise, Speech by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the 2004 National Day Rally at the University Cultural Centre, National University of Singapore on 22 August 2004.
McLaughlin, M. W., & Talbert, J. E. (2006). Building school based teacher learning communities: Professional strategies to improve student acheivement. New York: Teachers College Press.
MOE. (1998). Learning to think, thinking to learn. Singapore: Ministry of Education.
MOE. (2006). Celebrating learning through action research: CLEAR Symposium 2005. North Zone Schools: Ministry of Education, Singapore.
MOE. (2009). FutureSchools@Singapore. Retrieved 28 September 2011, 2011, from http://iresearch.edumall.sg/cos/o.x?c=/iresearch/pagetree&func=view&rid=98
MOE. (2011). Project work. Retrieved 16 September 2011: http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/programmes/project-work/
Mourshed, M., Chijioke, C., & Barber, M. (2010). How the world's most improved school systems keep getting better? Retrieved 26 July 2011, from http://ssomckinsey.darbyfilms.com/reports/schools/How-the-Worlds-Most-ImprovedSchool-Systems-Keep-Getting-Better_Download-version_Final.pdf
Ng, E. H. (2010). Opening Address by Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence, at the 5th Teachers' Conference 2010 on 6 September 2010 at 9.30am at the Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Suntec City. Retrieved 14 October 2010:
NIE. (2010). A teacher education model for the 21st century (TE21). Singapore: National Institute of Education.
Putnam, R. T., & Borko, H. (2000). What do new views of knowledge and thinking have to say about research on teacher learning? Educational Researcher, 29(1), 4-15.
Report of The Economic Review Committee (2003). Retrieved from http://app.mti.gov.sg/data/pages/507/doc/ERC_Full_Report.pdf.
Sharpe, L., & Gopinathan, S. (1993). Universitisation and the reform of teacher education: the case of Britain and Singapore. Research in Education, 50, 5-16.
Sharpe, L., & Gopinathan, S. (2002). After effectiveness: new directions in the Singapore school system? Journal of Education Policy, 17(2), 151-166.
Silver, R., Wright, S., Abdullah, R. B., Curdt-Christiansen, X. L., SeethaLakshmi, Yang, Y., et al. (2011). Curriculum Implementation in Early Primary Schooling in Singapore.
Retrieved 14 October 2011, from National Institute of Education: http://hdl.handle.net/10497/4453
Sim, W. K., & Ho, W. K. (1990). 25 Years of teacher education. In J. S. K. Yip & S. W. Kooi (Eds.), Evolution of Educational Excellence: 25 Years of Education in the Republic of Singapore (pp. 183-199). Singapore: Longman Singapore Publishers.
So, H.-J., Losman, H., Lim, W.-Y., & Jacobson, M. J. (2009). Designing an online video based platform for teacher learning in Singapore. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 25(3), 440-457.
Soh, K. C. (2006). Promoting Action Research in Singapore Schools. New Horizons in Education, 53, 14.
Somekh, B., & Zeichner, K. (2009). Action research for educational reform: Remodelling action research theories and practices in local contexts. Educational Action Research, 17(1), 5-21.
Stigler, J. W., & Hieber, J. (1999). The teaching gap. New York Free Press.
Tan, W. K., Macdonald, D., & Rossi, T. (2009). Educational action research in Singapore: to prove or improve? Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 29(3), 357-371.
Tang, N. (2000). Teachers' Network: A new approach in the professional development of teachers. ASCD Review, 9(3), 48-55.
Towndrow, P. A. (2005). Teachers as digital task designers: an agenda for research and professional development. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 37(5), 507-524.
Towndrow, P. A., Silver, R. E., & Albright, J. (2010). Setting expectations for educational innovations. Journal of Educational Change, 11(1), 425-455.
Towndrow, P. A., Tan, A. L., & Soo, P. L. (2009). Transforming science practical pedagogy and practice through innovative departmental planning.
Towndrow, P. A., Tan, A. L., Venthan, A., & Dorairaju, G. (2006). Designing tasks to teach SPA skills at lower secondary level in Singapore.
Wang-Iverson, P., & Yoshida., M. (2005). Building Our Understanding of Lesson Study.
Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning as a social system Systems thinker Yanping, F., Lee, C. K.-E., & Haron, S. T. S. (2009). Implementation of lesson study in a primary school in Singapore. Paper presented at the Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference, 1-3 June 2009. Retrieved from http://conference.nie.edu.sg/2009/search/frame.php?id=SYM032b&isexitpaper=1
Yeap, B. H., & Ho, S. Y. (2009). Teacher change in an informal professional development programme: The 4-I model. In K. Y. Wong, L. P. Yee, B. Kaur, F. P. Yee & N. S. Fong (Eds.), Mathematics education: the Singapore journey (Vol. 2, pp. 130). Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Company.
Yeong, A. (2005, 31 May to 3 June 2006). The promise of the project work initiative in Singaporean education: A critical reflection. Paper presented at the Redesigning Pedagogy, Singapore.
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Published
2011-12-12
How to Cite
Saravanan, G., & Ponnusamy, L. (2011). Teacher education in Singapore: Charting new directions. Journal of Research, Policy & Practice of Teachers and Teacher Education, 1(1), 16–29. Retrieved from https://ojs.upsi.edu.my/index.php/JRPPTTE/article/view/128
