AP weighs Singapore model for teacher training, skill-based learning

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh may adopt several practices from Singapore’s education system, including continuous teacher training, structured mentoring, skill-based learning and greater emphasis on student well-being, after a delegation of government school teachers shared its observations with education minister Nara Lokesh.Teachers who recently returned from a study tour to Singapore presented recommendations to Lokesh during a review meeting, highlighting practices they believe could strengthen school education in the state. The minister said the government would examine the suggestions and set up a mechanism to assess which reforms could be implemented.Among the key recommendations were compulsory annual professional development programmes for teachers, regular mentoring by senior educators, weekly academic planning meetings and classroom practices that promote critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving instead of rote learning.Teachers also highlighted Singapore’s “Teach Less, Learn More” approach, which gives greater importance to project-based and real-life learning. They said students are encouraged to develop practical skills from an early stage, while schools place equal emphasis on mental well-being, leadership and life skills.Several members of the delegation said schools in Singapore have dedicated systems to support both teachers and students.

Besides regular subject-wise discussions among teachers, schools conduct structured programmes on stress management, recognise outstanding teaching practices and encourage experienced teachers to mentor younger colleagues. Participants said such initiatives have helped create a collaborative academic environment while improving classroom outcomes.Continuous learning for teachersAnother feature that drew attention was Singapore’s focus on continuous learning for teachers.

Delegates said educators are required to undergo around 100 hours of professional development annually, enabling them to stay updated with emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and digital learning. Some also noted that teachers are given opportunities to gain industry exposure, allowing them to better align classroom teaching with changing workplace requirements.Another recommendation was to strengthen vocational education by linking schools with local industries so students graduate with job-ready skills.

Participants suggested designing region-specific skill courses based on local economic strengths to improve employability.Some teachers also pointed to Singapore’s academic assessment system, where performance in the Primary School Leaving Examination determines admission to secondary schools. Lokesh said any proposal to introduce similar measures in Andhra Pradesh would require careful study, keeping in mind the academic pressure on students.The minister said Singapore’s education system evolved over several decades and stressed that any reforms in Andhra Pradesh would be introduced only after evaluating their feasibility. He said the suggestions made by the teachers would be studied as the government continues its efforts to improve learning outcomes in government schools.