Possibility for Teacher Given C-Grade to be Graded Differently in Another School
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether a teacher graded C in one school could receive a different grade elsewhere for the same performance, as raised by Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang. Minister for Education Lawrence Wong explained that teachers are assessed via the Enhanced Performance Management System using relative ranking based on specific competencies. To ensure consistency, school ranking panels perform cross-ranking to moderate assessments, while Cluster Superintendents provide common benchmarks across multiple schools. For teachers receiving C-grades, supervisors provide follow-up guidance and development support to help improve their performance in subsequent years. These moderated processes and oversight measures aim to ensure that performance assessments remain fair and consistent throughout the education service.
Transcript
97 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Education whether a teacher who gets a C-grade in one school can potentially get a different grade for the same work performance if ranked with teachers in another school.
Mr Lawrence Wong: MOE, like the rest of the Civil Service, has a performance management system based on relative ranking. The Member has raised a hypothetical question, but I believe his underlying concern is whether our teachers are assessed in a fair and consistent manner across schools. Let me assure the Member that every effort is made to do so and to take into account that human judgement and inputs are part of the assessment process.
The performance of our teachers is assessed based on a set of competencies and expected key result areas as stipulated in the Enhanced Performance Management System (EPMS), and the supervisor uses these competences not just to assess, but to also help teachers continue their professional growth and development. The supervisor’s assessment inputs are then brought to a school ranking panel, where there is a cross-ranking process. This allows us to moderate differences in supervisors’ assessments and establish common standards of performance assessment.
To better ensure consistency in how performance management is implemented across schools, our Cluster Superintendents, who oversee several schools, are present at the school ranking sessions to provide guidance and useful benchmarks on the standards for performance grading.
For all C- cases, the supervisors will follow up with the teachers to guide them on their areas for improvements and help them with their professional growth and development. With the support provided, we hope these teachers will improve in their performance grade in the subsequent years.