Teachers are the most recognisable figures in education. However, just as it takes a village to raise a child, there are non-teaching staff who are part of the school team that help in student development.
The Allied Educator Scheme was started in 2009 and by 2020, there were about 2,000 Allied Educators (AED). These AEDs include School Counsellors, Student Welfare Officers and AEDs for Learning and Behavioural Support (AED(LBS)) and AEDs in Teaching and Learning (AEDs(T&L)) in mainstream schools. On average, each school has a team of one to two School Counsellors and one to two AED(LBS). Additionally, some schools will have a Student Welfare Officer to support students with irregular attendance.
Read Also: Salary Guide To How Much You Can Earn As An MOE Teacher
Who Are Allied Educators (AEDs)?
Allied Educators are non-teaching staff, who work with teachers to nurture and develop every child in school by raising the quality of interaction with every child.
Under MOE’s non-teaching careers page, Allied Educators include School Counsellor, Special Educational Needs Officer, Outdoor Adventure Educator and Student Welfare Officer.
The Academy of Singapore Teachers (AST) which provides the training for AEDs(T&L) further spells out the different job functions of AEDs:
Source: AST
According to MOE, they have grown the number of School Counsellors, Student Welfare Officers, and AEDs(LBS) by over 30% over the five years before 2020, and intend to further expand this to meet the growing needs of our students. Additionally, they have also actively facilitated the retraining of AEDs(T&L) to more specialised roles. In 2018 and 2019, MOE sponsored around 100 AEDs(T&L) to a 10-month full-time Diploma in Special Education at the National Institute of Education with plans to train another 100 in 2020.
As there is an emphasis on School Counsellors, AEDs(LBS) and Student Welfare Officers amongst the various Allied Educators, we would be focusing on these three AEDs.
| Service | Starting Salary | Training | |
| School Counsellor | School Counsellor Scheme of Service | $2,760 to $4,700 | 8-month sponsored training with 2 years bond |
| AED(LBS) | Special Educational Needs Officer Scheme of Service | $1,800 and $4,690 | 1-year sponsored training with 2 years bond |
| Student Welfare Officer | Student Welfare Officer Scheme of Service | $1,730 to $4,690 | N.A. |
School Counsellors Earns A Starting Salary Of $2,760 to $4,700
School counsellors provide support to students’ mental health and social-emotional development. Their roles and responsibilities include:
- systemic support such as developing suitable school counselling programme, advising school management, conducting training,
- preventive programme such as developing and conducting sessions for students on mental health and healthy coping mechanisms,
- responsive services such as providing individual and group counselling to students, provide direct crisis intervention, maintain case consultation records and documentation.
Starting Salary And Benefits
Depending on the relevant work experience and time spent on the job, academic training and completion of full-time National Service, new School Counsellors can expect a starting salary ranging from $2,760 to $4,700. You will be appointed to the School Counsellor Scheme of Service and hired on a contract basis. This is a different scheme of service from MOE teachers.
You would also be eligible for other benefits such as time off during school holidays (subject to your work needs), subsidised medical and dental benefits, 14 days of medical leave and up to 60 days of hospitalisation leave and 10 days of urgent leave for private matters (subject to approval).
School Counsellors also have the option to work on a short-term basis under the Flexi-Adjunct School Counsellor (SC).
Training
To enter as a Trained School Counsellor, you would need to have, preferably at least 1 year of working experience (in particular, experience working or volunteering with children and youths would be helpful) and a relevant counselling qualification, such as those recognised by the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC).
Alternatively, you can enter as an Untrained School Counsellor without any relevant qualifications. You would apply through MOE’s sponsored foundational training programme which will equip you with the necessary skills. The programme is 8 months long and you would be bonded for 2 years after the completion of the programme.
Paid Compulsory Untrained School Stint
Similar to teachers, untrained school counsellors would have to go through a compulsory school stint to affirm your interest in the job and allows MOE to assess your suitability. You will be enrolled in the foundational training programme, only if you successfully complete the school stint.
You would be paid a salary during the school stint as well as during the foundational training programme if applicable. During the school stint, you would be guided by a mentor and supported by the school. The stint usually starts in January or March of each year.
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Special Educational Needs Officer (SEN Officer) Earns A Starting Salary Of $1,800 and $4,690
Special Educational Needs Officer (SEN Officer), also referred to as AED(LBS), supports students with special educational needs (SEN) in mainstream schools. Examples of SEN include dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mild autism spectrum disorders, sensory impairments, and physical impairments.
Their roles and responsibilities include:
- intervention support
- systems consultation in the area of educational development
- liaise with parents, external agencies and other stakeholders to ensure continued support for students with special educational needs.
Starting Salary And Benefits
Depending on the relevant work experience and time spent on the job, academic training and completion of full-time National Service, new SEN Officers can expect a starting salary ranging from $1,800 and $4,690. You will be appointed to the Special Educational Needs Officer Scheme of Service and hired on a contract basis. This is a different scheme of service from MOE teachers.
Similar to school counsellors, you would also be eligible for other benefits such as time off during school holidays (subject to your work needs), subsidised medical and dental benefits, 14 days of medical leave and up to 60 days of hospitalisation leave and 10 days of urgent leave for private matters (subject to approval).
SEN officers also have the option to work on a short-term basis under the Flexi-Adjunct Special Educational Needs Officer
Training
You can enter as an Untrained SEN officer without any relevant qualifications or experience. You would apply through MOE’s sponsored foundational training programme which will equip you with the necessary skills. The programme is 1 year long, and you would be bonded for 2 years after the completion of the programme.
Paid Compulsory Untrained School Stint
Similar to school counsellors, untrained SEN officers would have to go through a compulsory school stint to affirm your interest in the job and allows MOE to assess your suitability. You will be enrolled in the foundational training programme, only if you successfully complete the school stint.
You would be paid a salary during the school stint as well as during the foundational training programme if applicable. During the school stint, you would be guided by a mentor and supported by the school. The stint usually lasts at least 4 months.
Read Also: Salary Guide: How Much Can You Earn As An Early Childhood Educator
Student Welfare Officer Earns A Starting Salary Of $1,730 to $4,690
Student Welfare Officers (SWOs) provide social support to students-at-risk. Their roles and responsibilities include:
- student-centric casework support for student-at-risk and their families
- mentoring for students-at-risk
- home visits
- referrals to relevant agencies to help students’ families access the relevant community resources and services
- monitor and manage statutory cases
- help re-integrate students who have been absent from school.
The job requirements include the ability to manage complex and serious school absenteeism or statutory cases and providing consultation to school leaders on these cases. At least 5 years of working experience is preferred and casework experience in social services sector, working with and support students-at-risk and families is advantageous.
Starting Salary And Benefits
Depending on the relevant work experience and time spent on the job, academic training and completion of full-time National Service, new SWO can expect a starting salary ranging from $1,730 to $4,690. You will be appointed to the Special Educational Needs Officer Scheme of Service and hired on a contract basis. This is a different scheme of service from MOE teachers.
Similar to school counsellors, you would also be eligible for other benefits such as time off during school holidays (subject to your work needs), subsidised medical and dental benefits, 14 days of medical leave and up to 60 days of hospitalisation leave and 10 days of urgent leave for private matters (subject to approval).
SEN officers also have the option to work on a short-term basis under the Flexi-Adjunct Special Educational Needs Officer.
Unlike School Counsellor and Special Educational Needs Officer, applications are currently closed for Student Welfare Officer.
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