Article on All primary, secondary and JC ...

All teachers in Singapore's primary schools, secondary schools, and junior colleges (JCs) must complete three compulsory training modules on artificial intelligence under a new Ministry of Education (MOE) plan. The Teacher AI Literacy Professional Learning Roadmap, launched in August, sets out the skills and knowledge educators need as the technology becomes more common in classrooms. The first module covers AI fundamentals, including ethical considerations, safety, and responsible use. Teachers must complete it by the end of 2026. The other two modules, due by end-2027, explore age-appropriate use, how AI affects students' thinking, and how the technology can deepen learning. Each online module takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete. Beyond the compulsory modules, teachers can take more advanced, subject-specific AI courses starting in 2027.

Why the training is being introduced

The move comes amid growing concerns that students may become overly reliant on AI, using it as a shortcut to complete assignments or producing answers without developing their own thinking. In a parliamentary session in February, Education Minister Desmond Lee said the ministry is studying the impact of such tools on students' learning. He added that AI is gradually introduced from Primary 4 with teachers' supervision. Students can use MOE-developed AI tools available in the Singapore Student Learning Space, which are "designed to be pedagogically sound and are accompanied by appropriate guard rails," Lee said. Samuel Tan, lead specialist at MOE's Educational Technology Division, said the internal AI literacy roadmap builds on guidance the ministry has issued since generative AI tools like ChatGPT became widely available in late 2022. "When AI became popularised, there were teachers who ran ahead quite fast, experimenting with it since 2023," he said, adding that the ministry saw a need for clear guidance to equip teachers with AI skills useful for teaching and learning. As of 2024, there were 29,605 teachers across primary schools, secondary schools, and JCs. Tan said the ministry spells out the specific knowledge, skills, and ethical considerations teachers should have, while giving schools flexibility to plan their own professional learning opportunities.

Teachers at different stages of readiness

Candice Seet, a master teacher for history based at the Academy of Singapore Teachers (AST), said many educators have been eager to explore AI but need support to keep up. "AI is new and evolving, and we recognise that teachers are naturally at different stages of readiness as well as levels of confidence when it comes to using AI for teaching and learning," she said. Beyond the online modules, teachers have other learning opportunities, including peer-sharing sessions in schools and learning networks organised by the AST and school clusters. Tan said AI literacy is an increasingly important part of MOE's broader EdTech Masterplan 2030, which lays out plans to use education technology to complement teaching. The intention is not for all teachers to use AI in every lesson, he said. Seet added that the emphasis is on designing AI lessons that encourage critical thinking and reflection. This could involve getting students to question AI-generated information and verify it against trusted sources. Such activities help with metacognition, where students think about how they think. "It's important that they engage in deep reflection, especially when they're using AI as part of their learning experience... And teachers play a critical role in helping students exercise discernment," she said. Even as more teachers become comfortable with AI, Seet does not foresee it dominating classrooms. Instead, she expects teachers to be more confident in deciding when technology can enhance a lesson and when it might not. "There are some things that we can't outsource to AI, such as discernment, reasoning and exercising judgment," she said. Teachers remain essential even in designing AI-enabled lessons, she said, because they are trained to keep students at the centre. They consider whether AI adds value to learning, ensure students are still interacting with teachers and peers, and encourage responsible use rather than using the tools as a shortcut. "Teaching is fundamentally a human endeavour," she added.

Why this matters for educators

For teachers, this roadmap signals that AI proficiency is becoming a baseline professional requirement, not an optional skill. The compulsory modules set a clear timeline: master the fundamentals by end-2026, then complete the classroom-focused modules by end-2027. The broader message from MOE officials is that AI should support - not replace - the judgement teachers already exercise. The focus on discernment and critical thinking means educators are expected to model how to question AI output, not just how to use it. Teachers who want to prepare early can explore resources on AI for Education or follow a structured AI Learning Path for Teachers to build skills before the ministry's deadlines arrive.