Debated in Parliament on 8 Apr 2026.
Dr Choo Pei Ling asked the Minister for Education (a) what data does the Ministry track on the teaching workload and classroom complexity in ITE, including (i) class size, (ii) presence of students with Special Educational Needs and (iii) availability of support staff; (b) how are these factors monitored to ensure effective teaching and sustainable workloads; and (c) whether there are trends indicating increasing complexity in classroom management.
The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) monitors educators' workload through staff surveys and engagements and indicators, such as teaching hours. The Ministry of Education (MOE) and ITE also track the number of ITE students with special educational needs (SEN) to inform resource planning and support.
MOE and ITE will continue to support educators in managing their teaching workload and meeting the diverse student needs. ITE deploys mentors to provide beginning educators with guidance on effective classroom management and teaching strategies.
Specialised support staff in ITE including SEN support officers, socio-emotional counsellors and student welfare officers, provide both direct support to students with diverse needs and guidance to educators to identify and implement effective support plans for these students.
To help educators better support students with SEN, all ITE educators receive training on recognising SEN conditions and corresponding methods of teaching and learning, with additional training in areas like classroom management and student engagement including behavioural regulation.
ITE will continue to adopt digital solutions to reduce administrative load of educators. An example is the internship management portal, which automates workflows and streamlines internship management. ITE also takes care of staff well-being in other ways, such as through flexible work arrangements, and additional support, like fitness programmes and free health checks.
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