Debated in Parliament on 6 Nov 2025.
Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Education for each of the last three years, (a) the median and 90th-percentile processing time for Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) applications from submission to final offer; and (c) whether the prolonged timelines had compelled qualified candidates to seek alternative employment.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) runs a rigorous recruitment process to ensure that only suitable applicants with the desired values, qualities and competencies are selected to be educators.
Shortlisted Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) applicants typically receive an interview invitation within three to four weeks of each application window closing. Those selected after the interview are then put through the proficiency tests (if applicable) and medical checks. Among the PGDE applicants who applied early this year and were selected after the interview, half of them received an offer within two to five months from the date of interview. About 7% of applicants who cleared the interview withdrew their applications before they received an offer.
We acknowledge that the longer wait time after the interview may be a concern for applicants, and we remain in touch with them throughout the process.
MOE is committed to maintaining a high-quality workforce of teachers. We will continue to streamline and improve our processes to increase our recruitment efficiency, so as to attract as many good candidates as possible.
PAPERCUTS