Starting from August 2018, teachers will have to pay for parking lots in schools.

We understand that the parking fees, which costs S$15 and S$75 per month during school terms for motorcycles and cars respectively, will be automatically docked off their pay.

Additionally, a few school staff also told us that ballots will be held if there are limited parking slots and there has be a two months notice if a staff wants to give up the parking space.

Unfair for teachers

This news, of course, was not warmly received by a lot of Singaporeans who felt strongly for the teachers.

"Why should teachers pay for parking? Many of them drive becasue school hours start so early and end so late; also many are forced to drive because they have to lug home heavy books and scripts to mark. If everything has to be counted clearly in dollars and cents, MOE should start reimbursing teachers for the red pens they use and also for any transport charges incurred for out of school meetings etc.. I don't see how making teachers pay for parking works towards making it an attractive and meaningful occupation."

"Teachers are the only civil servants that voluntarily stay back over time to provide extra tuition, organize CCA for their students. No other civil servants voluntarily stay back overtime out of own violation.

Surely we can cut some slack for the teachers for their devotion to our younger generation."

Everyone else pays, so teachers should too

Others, however, thought it was perfectly fine for teachers to bear the costs for parking since other civil servants do the same.

"Actually why so late, why the complains. All along a lot other civil servants are paying for parkings at their respective workplace already."

"Honestly speaking, why are some educators here so upset? Virtually everyone who drives to work in Singapore pays for season parking. Just because they are educators make them special and should be entitle to free parking?

Duh..."

Former school teacher comments

But what do teachers think?

A Facebook user who goes by Matt MQ, who claims to be an educator and has worked with the Ministry Of Education for 15 years, shared his disappointment by penning a long comment:

Since this was a pretty lengthy comment, we summarised it in two points:

Teaching is not a regular job

According to Matt, the parking rates were implemented largely because a percentage of people thought that teachers should not be exempted from paying for parking lots since those from other industries pay for theirs too. 

However, he pointed out that the occupation is not a 9-to-5 job. In fact, teachers may have to spend more than 12 hours in school running errands and even then, they have to bring home some of their work.

"Often, teachers are called to stay in schools more than 12 hours a day attending meetings, supervising CCAs, giving consultations to students, attending to Committees etc. The teachers then have to lug back piles of marking back home to mark constantly while also having to deal with demanding parents and increasingly errant children."

It doesn't just affect teachers

Matt also shared that teachers and staff won't be the only ones affected by this scheme.

School canteen operators, coaches and instructors who frequent the school will also be charged.

"How about freelance instructors who have to drive all over Singapore to various schools too etc? As it is, those who are freelancers already struggle with expenses due to lack of regularity in projects and competition."

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Speaking to Mothership, a primary school teacher who wants to remain anonymous also shared similar points as Matt's.

Teachers do not have regular perks

The primary school teacher shared that it is unfair for people to compare teachers to other office workers as the nature of their jobs is very different.

"We don’t enjoy perks like OT pay (even though we work way past office hours and even work from and at home). We don’t have the luxury to take off-days as and when we like. In fact, we don’t even have the promise of a guaranteed 1-hour lunch every day. We eat as and when and in between lessons. Sometimes while doing marking and other paperwork."

Not about the money

The parking rates are imposed in line with the Public Service Division's “clean wage” policy, which asks for the salaries to be fully accounted for without any hidden perks or privileges.

However, teachers also use up their own money for items that usually benefit their students, such as stationery, materials for classroom decoration and small gifts such as stickers for Children's Day or simply to reward good behaviour.

While these purchases sound menial, the expenses, according to the teacher, do add up.

"They said our wages shouldn’t have any hidden perks or benefits, but we also have hidden costs to bear. And no teacher actually ever complains because we are spending for the kids under our charge."

And as such, the main concern isn't about how much the parking rates cost.

"It’s not the amount that upsets everyone. It’s the notion that this is how we will be viewed and treated."

Top image via here

Here’s a totally unrelated but equally interesting story:

Are you a media freelancer? Were you promised better “exposure” instead of cash payment for your work?