Keeping Teacher and Allied Educators' Salaries Competitive with Planned 2% to 9% Pay Increase

Mr Lee Hong Chuang asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the planned 2% to 9% pay increase for teachers and allied educators will be sufficient to keep salaries competitive; and (b) what other strategies are in place to attract new teachers amid declining numbers.

Mr Desmond Lee: The Ministry of Education (MOE) has conducted a comprehensive review to ensure that our educators' overall salary package remains market competitive. The salary adjustments of 2% to 9%, which we announced in March 2026, are determined based on the gap between the salary and the corresponding market benchmark at each grade. MOE will continue to conduct periodic salary reviews to keep educator compensation competitive.

Beyond salary adjustments, MOE has broadened recruitment outreach to fresh graduates and mid-careerists, and continues to offer teaching scholarships and awards. MOE and the National Institute of Education are also shortening the Postgraduate Diploma in Education from 16 to 12 months from 2027, enabling faster entry into the classroom without compromising quality. Together, these efforts have contributed to recruiting more than 1,300 teachers in 2025, up from 600 in 2023.