Respect for teachers key to growing the profession: Chan

Quality of teaching force main determinant of outcomes of education system, he says

- Gabrielle Chan

Respect for teachers is crucial to attract and retain them, and grow the profession, and is more important than monetary factors and work environment, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing.

"The quality of the teaching force is the most important determinant of the outcomes of our education system," Mr Chan said in his speech at the opening of the 14th International Summit on the Teaching Profession on April 22.

It is one of the fundamentals that should not change amid shifts in the education sector, he said, adding that students should also develop beyond academic foundations so that their diverse strengths will contribute to a society's collective good.

Hosted by Singapore for the first time, the summit from April 22 to 24 has drawn 140 delegates from 18 countries, including education ministers.

During the summit at Raffles City Convention Centre, these leaders of global education systems will discuss the future of learning, the role of technology in education and training, and the importance of partnerships in supporting lifelong learning.

They will also visit Singapore's primary and secondary schools, as well as institutes of higher learning and other training institutes.

Mr Chan said that education is at a turning point, citing how knowledge is becoming more commoditised.