Average Classroom Instruction Hours versus Total Working Hours for Teachers and Initiatives to Reduce Administrative Workload in Past Five Years

Ms Elysa Chen asked the Minister for Education (a) for each year over the past five years, what has been the average number of weekly classroom instruction hours and total working hours by teachers; and (b) whether details can be provided on any quantitative targets or tracked outcomes of initiatives to reduce teachers' administrative workload.

Over the past five years, the work hours that our teachers have reported during term time has remained stable at an average of 53 hours per week1. Of these, about 14 hours are spent on classroom teaching, while the remaining time is spent on activities, such as small group consultations, lesson preparation, co-curricular activities and professional development. These activities are critical to their effectiveness and provide a holistic education for our students.

Over the years, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has streamlined processes and used technology to reduce administrative work. For instance, teachers now use Parents Gateway, a digital platform to obtain consent from and to disseminate information to parents. Beyond using technology, MOE has deployed a dedicated team of administrative staff in each school to handle general administrative matters, procurement, financial operations as well as logistics support. Today, teachers spend four hours per week on administrative work, down from five hours per week in 2021. MOE will continue to streamline work and leverage technology including artificial intelligence solutions, to help our teachers manage their workload.