Teacher Education Policy: Recruitment, Preparation and Progression

Despite the small geographical size of the nation, the Singapore economy is one of the most prosperous in the world. Not only does it rank as the best country in the world to do business (Economy Watch in 2011 World Bank ease of doing business index, 2011), but Singapore has also been highlighted as a high-performing education system with features that other systems could learn from Barber and Mourshed (How the world’s best-performing school systems come out on top. McKinsey & Company, New York, 2007). The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD in Strong performers and successful reformers in education: Lessons from PISA for the United States. Author, Paris, France, pp. 159–176, 2010) also commented on the strong link between education and economic development in Singapore, as well as between policy formulation and policy implementation.