SINGAPORE: Teachers in Singapore work significantly longer hours than their global peers, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) released on 7 October 2025.
The survey found that teachers in Singapore clock an average of 47.3 working hours per week, compared with the OECD average of 41 hours.
This places Singapore third globally, behind Japan at 55 hours and New Zealand in second place.
However, netizens argued that official figures underestimate teachers’ workload, citing excessive duties, poor work-life balance, and stagnant pay. Many criticised the Ministry of Education (MOE)’s response and called for fairer pay, stronger support, and more realistic expectations.
Survey finds Singapore teachers work 47.3 hours weekly, six hours above OECD average
Although teachers in Singapore spend fewer hours on classroom teaching — 17.7 hours weekly compared with the OECD average of 22.7 — their overall workload remains heavier due to additional duties such as lesson planning, counselling, co-curricular activities, and communication with parents.
The MOE said the figures reflect Singapore’s holistic approach to education, where teachers play multiple roles in students’ academic and personal development.
“Teachers do not just teach academic content, but also nurture students’ non-academic growth through co-curricular and pastoral activities,” the ministry said.
Teachers spent about 6.4 hours weekly on marking, down from 7.5 hours in 2018, and 8.2 hours preparing lessons.
Administrative work accounted for four hours, slightly higher than in 2018.
Despite the long working hours, over 80% of teachers in Singapore reported being satisfied with their jobs.
However, stress levels have risen: 27% said they experience stress “a lot” at work, up from 23% in 2018 and above the OECD average of 19%.
Key stress factors include administrative tasks, marking, and accountability for student performance.
Education Minister Desmond Lee, speaking at the launch of the TALIS 2024 report at the MOE headquarters in Buona Vista, said the ministry is introducing digital solutions to ease administrative burdens.
He cited Parents Gateway, a digital platform enabling the electronic submission of student absence documents, which will be made available to all parents by early 2026.
The initiative aims to reduce teachers’ workload related to attendance tracking and communication.
Lee also emphasised the need to avoid an “always-on” culture between teachers and parents.
“We are committed to ensuring that teaching remains attractive and rewarding for both new and experienced educators,” he said.
The survey revealed generational differences in stress levels, with younger teachers under 30 reporting higher stress compared to those aged 50 and above.
While 40% of younger teachers indicated plans to leave the profession within five years — a nine-point drop from 2018 — the figure remains double the OECD average.
Most cited personal or family reasons, pursuing further education, or transitioning to non-teaching roles within the education sector.
Salary satisfaction and professional recognition
On remuneration, 55% of Singapore teachers said they were satisfied with their salaries, though this represents a 17-point decline from 2018. The figure still exceeds the OECD average of 39%.
In terms of social perception, 71% of teachers in Singapore believe their profession is valued in society, far higher than the global average of 22%.
Over half also felt their views are respected by policymakers, up seven percentage points from the previous survey.
More than seven in ten teachers said teaching was their first career choice, including 79% of novice educators with under five years of experience.
The OECD said the TALIS survey aims to guide governments in improving teacher well-being, training, and professional development.
The 2025 cycle included 194,000 teachers across 55 education systems, with about 3,500 respondents from Singapore, representing all 145 secondary schools and 10 private institutions.
Singapore’s continued participation in TALIS provides a consistent measure of progress and challenges facing educators in an evolving education landscape.
The MOE reiterated its commitment to strengthening support systems, promoting work-life balance, and expanding career growth opportunities for teachers.
“The numbers understate reality,” netizens say
On social media platforms such as Reddit, and the Facebook pages of CNA and The Straits Times, many netizens agreed that teachers in Singapore are indeed overworked.
Beyond classroom teaching, they are burdened with numerous additional responsibilities, with several commenters saying the reported figures underestimate the true workload.
One user, who identified as an MOE teacher with ten years of experience, said the figures in the report do not reflect the real workload of full-time teachers.
The user alleged that schools instruct teachers on how many hours to report in the annual workload survey, resulting in inaccurate data.
Another user remarked that this was why many teachers eventually leave the service. The user cited long hours, misbehaving students, and non-teaching duties such as co-curricular activities and even election duties.
While teachers get school holidays, the user noted that the wait for breaks comes at the expense of their physical and mental well-being.
“Underpaid and overworked”
Some netizens also pointed out that teachers are underpaid despite their workload.
“Honestly, the fact that salaries have not risen is absolutely absurd. I think this is one of the few reasons why important jobs like teaching and nursing are severely understaffed,” one commenter wrote, adding that the user had once wanted to become a teacher but was reconsidering due to the low pay.
One user commented that teaching is a demanding job, both physically and mentally, and that teachers deserve better pay and benefits.
Longstanding concern over teachers’ workload
Some users criticised MOE, questioning why it took a global survey to highlight issues that teachers have raised for years.
One user commented, “This joke about addressing teachers’ workload has been around for decades — from when my wife joined the teaching force 20 years ago. Nothing much changed by the time she left eight years ago.”
“Work-life balance? It’s always ‘school needs come first’,” the user added.
Other commenters took issue with MOE’s remark that “stress is inevitable in every workplace, and it is unrealistic to eliminate all stress factors.”
One user responded, “How tone-deaf can MOE be?” and noted that nobody was asking for zero stress.
Another commenter said that nobody expects zero stress in the job. The user added that teachers mainly hope for management support, which is often lacking.
“MOE management all the way down often throw teachers under the bus to please parents,” the user added.
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