Ex-Teacher Calls Out Desmond Lee's Parliament Response as Not Reflecting Ground Truth

A deeply personal and critical post by former Singapore teacher Jo Ann Kuek has ignited a viral debate over the Ministry of Education's (MOE) handling of teacher workload and well-being. The post and an accompanying letter to the Ministry were a direct response to Education Minister Desmond Lee's comments in Parliament on November 4, 2025.

The Catalyst: "Freedom Felt Like Grief"

Ms. Kuek, who resigned from MOE in 2010 after seven years due to stress-related thyroid issues requiring lifelong medication, began her post by recalling the emotional toll of leaving: "I cried a wall of tears. I learnt that day that freedom sometimes felt a lot like grief." The statement vividly captures the emotional cost of the profession and the subsequent sense of loss mixed with relief upon departure.

The immediate trigger for her public letter was the response by Minister Lee to Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding teacher workload in Parliament on November 4, 2025. While Minister Lee cited internal data showing the average teacher workload has remained stable at 53 hours per week and highlighted measures like flexible work arrangements (FWA) and AI tools, Ms. Kuek criticized this as inadequate.

Criticism of Policy and Systemic Issues

In her letter and post, Ms. Kuek argued that the initiatives mentioned by the Minister "were not reflective of reality." She claimed that most teachers cannot utilize FWAs like work-from-home days because their presence is frequently required in school for meetings, co-curricular activities (CCAs), and other duties.

Her critique extended beyond administrative workload to fundamental systemic issues:

• Exam-Centric Focus: She questioned if the system is truly preparing students beyond exams, asking if teachers have the necessary time and space when "exams are still front and centre, and the syllabus remains so extensive and rigid."

• Class Sizes: Ms. Kuek also pointed to the longstanding issue of large class sizes, a concern that has persisted for decades.

• MOE Response: Ms. Kuek noted that an official reply from MOE 15 days after her initial email offered a "needs-based" approach to resourcing—a response she felt confirmed her view that the Ministry would always resort to a "form of reasoning, or platitude" that fails to address ground realities.

The post garnered overwhelming support from current and former educators who shared their own experiences.

Ministerial Engagement and Groundswell Support

The post concludes with a major update:

• Direct Outreach: Minister for Education Desmond Lee and Minister of State for Education Jasmin Lau both reached out to Ms. Kuek "to speak further" about her concerns.

• Compiling Feedback: Before the scheduled meeting, Ms. Kuek announced she would "compile what has been shared here with me"—a brief containing real voices from the ground—to ensure the Ministers receive a representative view of teachers' working conditions.

Ms. Kuek concluded her post with a message of solidarity and a clear warning to current educators: "Have boundaries. Don't burn the candle at both ends... Don't stay, if it costs you too much."