Sunday, March 18, 2012

A British teacher leaves Singapore in disgust

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I publish below a letter received from a British teacher who leaves her job in signapore in disgust. I have concealed her name and particulars at her request

Gopalan Nair
Fremont, California

A British teacher in Singapore

MOE College
FROM:British teacher
TO:nair.gopalan@yahoo.com

Message flagged Saturday, March 17, 2012 5:32 AM

Dear Mr Nair
I have been an avid follower of your website since my return from
Singapore in 2009. Please allow me to explain.

In ..............., as a newly qualified A Level Lecturer, thanks to the appaling
recession, bullying management and the continual changes in the UK education system, I was desperate to gain any teaching experience. Not fully understanding the political or social situation there, I applied to the Ministry of Education in Singapore.

In ................, my wife and I arrived at the shiny MOE building on North Bouna Vista Drive. I was appointed to a large Junior College, teachng A Level General Paper. Despite all the reassurances, it was apparent from day one that the system stinks.

Here's why:
1)The constant cynicism, regarding anything political, in the
staffroom and classrooms.
2) The mindnumbing bureacracy, which sapped the creativity and
inspiration from new teachers. Better to just conform and play the
'game'.
3) The total shambles of mismanagement...
4) The hypocricy, the racism, the sexism and the utter lies peddled by
PAP activists who entered the college, or members who were also
management.

I could go on, and if you would like further details, I will happily
provide them. Please consider one request. You may use anything I
provide for the website, but please keep my name, the subject and when
I was there secret. I really do fear for my former colleagues, if it
is revealed that I am passing information to you.

Please keep up the good work, Singapore has many wonderful and decent
people, who we still keep in touch with. It needs the same regime
change as seen in the Middle East. The truth wil out.

Yours sincerely
British Teacher

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

This is only the tip of the iceberg.
The rest of Singapore is as corrupt , inefficient and lacking imagination as the MOE .
Singaporeans have the reputaion of doing well in exams , yet are not good in the workplace , especially where creativity is needed .