Performance Grades Received by Teachers in Different Age Groups and Impact on Promotion Prospects
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the teacher performance grading system and its impact on career advancement and professional development opportunities. MP Louis Ng Kok Kwang sought demographic data on lower-graded teachers and questioned the promotion constraints and feedback mechanisms involved in performance management. Minister for Education Lawrence Wong stated that MOE employs a relative ranking system and that teachers with a C- grade are typically not considered for promotion until they demonstrate consistently good performance. He noted that while these teachers are ineligible for Professional Development Leave for further studies, they continue to have access to in-service training for their professional duties. Finally, the Minister clarified that 360-degree feedback is used as a developmental tool for leaders rather than a direct appraisal tool for performance ranking.
Transcript
57 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Education for each year in the past five years, what is the median age of teachers and the median number of years of service of teachers who obtained a C-grade, D-grade and E-grade respectively.
58 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Education whether a 360-degree feedback mechanism is used in the performance management system of stack ranking and will directly affect the grade of a teacher and key personnel.
59 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Education whether a teacher who receives a C-performance grade will not be considered for promotion for three years and will also not qualify him for professional development leave.
Mr Lawrence Wong: MOE, like the rest of the Civil Service, adopts a system of relative ranking. Depending on how well the teachers have performed in relation to their peers in the same substantive grade, they can be given C-, D, E grade at any stage in their career and across all age bands. We are unable to provide more details as these are employer-sensitive information.
The Ministry closely monitors teachers who are weaker performers. Their supervisors will follow up with these teachers to guide them on their areas for improvements and help them with their professional growth and development.
Teachers who have shown consistently good performance and are assessed to be ready to take on a higher level job may be considered for promotion. Hence, weaker performers with C- grades would typically not be considered for promotion until they demonstrate consistently good performance, in line with the Civil Service’s practice. This is to ensure that they are able to contribute at the promoted substantive grade. However, if there are exceptional cases, special consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis.
Teachers can apply for Professional Development Leave to facilitate their continuous learning and deepen their knowledge and skills relevant to teaching. Professional Development Leave is typically taken by teachers to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies, or short-term professional development activities. Although teachers with C- grade are not eligible for Professional Development Leave, they continue to have access to relevant in-service training programmes, such as those courses to improve on their content mastery and pedagogy, which they would need to carry out their professional duties.
MOE currently uses the 360-degree feedback tool more as a developmental tool for leaders to gather feedback from people in their working circles on their leadership qualities and working styles rather than an appraisal tool. The feedback helps them to understand their strengths and developmental areas and motivates them to improve.