kafka's shadow
I have been silent about this for a while, because I thought I would give the other party a chance to reply. Today I received an email from them; as expected it was crafted to communicate maximum bureaucratic reticence. I reproduce the correspondence below. Have fun reading!
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Re: Inquiry Into Unexplained Termination of Relief Teaching Position
Dear Miss XXXXX XXXX,
I applied online to be a relief teacher some time in April 2007. Subsequent to that, I presented myself to the administration staff of East View Secondary School. I chose the school based on its proximity to my place of residence and the fact that one of my sisters is an alumnus of the school.
Upon seeing my examination results, and considering the fact that they were short of a Humanities teacher, I was asked to leave my name behind with the school. A few days later I was called and told that I will be filling in the vacancy for a History and Social Studies teacher.
On the 16th of April 2007, I started work at East View Secondary School. I was told to present my NRIC and my bank passbook so the school could process my salary from the MOE.
I have had a very humbling, yet, enriching, experience teaching at East View. It has broadened my views on what constitutes the dynamics of a reductively labeled 'neighbourhood school'. I have built invaluable rapport with some of the students in the school, and have learnt to be more patient with those from complex socio-economic backgrounds.
On the 14th of May 2007, the Assistant Head of Department for Humanities asked me if I was able to extend my services to the school until July, based on the fact that he was impressed with my performance thus far. However, later on, I was summoned to see the Head of Department for Humanities.
I was told that the school had received a telephone call from the MOE requesting the immediate termination of my services as a relief teacher. He was unable to give me the grounds for such a decision. When I queried him as to whether this was based on my performance in school, he assured me, in his own words, that 'professionally and pedagogically, we had no problems with you'.
I asked if there had been any complaints made against me by any student or parent. Again, I was told that the school had been very satisfied with my performance, and based on feedback from students and teachers, acknowledged the fact that I had often gone beyond the minimum expectations for a relief teacher—including producing extra classroom material and marking the examination papers. He acknowledged that the school was in a very difficult position, because they would have problems procuring the services of another relief teacher at such short notice.
He explained that the decision mystified the school as well, and I was told that the only way to get any answers was to contact the Personnel Division of the MOE.
I am thus writing to you to seek some answers.
1) What are the reasons for my termination as a relief teacher? I have satisfied the eligibility requirement as stated on your website, which stated a minimum of 5 'O' Level passes. As a matter of fact, I had garnered ten A1 distinctions for my 'O' Level results. I do not have a criminal record. To the best of my knowledge, I have not committed an infraction during the course of my teaching so grievous as to warrant such abrupt termination.
2) Today I received a letter from the Personnel Division informing me that I have not been 'successful for (my) applicaton'. This of course came after the fact; I had already been teaching for a month. Obviously, I would like to know why this letter is sent to me only after my employment.
3) When your directive arrived at the school, I was in the midst of marking the first semestral exam papers for 16 classes. I would like to know why you had urged my termination with such alacrity, without considering how this would affect the school and the student population. I felt a natural responsibility to review with the students the papers that I had marked. In light of these considerations, would it not have been more humane and less disruptive to provide me with a grace period so as to tie up loose ends before my departure?
4) I can only speculate that I have been somewhat blacklisted—as a relief teacher for now—by the MOE. I do not know the basis of this blacklisting, and whether it was generated via any kind of inter-ministerial communication and information-sharing. Does this mean that I will not be able to enter the teaching profession, and that an avenue for possible gainful employment in the civil service has been forever closed to me?
I would like to express my deep distress at the almost alarmist haste in which I was discharged. It seemed as if my continued presence in the school represented some mortal threat to the students. When I faced the Head of Department for Humanities, I could only express my surprise and bewilderment. I extended my apologies for being such a liability to the school, a liability whose grounds elude me.
I am writing to you not as a faceless member of the public, but as someone who values the teaching profession, and who had experienced first-hand the privilege of being amongst the ranks of teachers, albeit in a relief capacity. On the day of my departure, one of my favourite classes had wanted to take a group photograph with me. As I was in the middle of a lesson, I dismissed the request, somehow assured that I would have an opportunity during my final days at school. I regret that decision now; the photograph would have been a much-cherished memento.
As such, I expect a reply from you that is nothing less than forthcoming, sincere, and devoid of either bureaucratic obscurantism and obfuscation. Your hiring policy contains a covert clause that has deemed me unsuitable for teaching. I would like to know what that clause is, not simply as a matter of personal grievance, but for the sake of any Singaporean who wishes to enter the teaching profession. Full disclosure of your hiring policies to the public will prevent future incidents like mine. It is an incident I do not wish on anyone aspiring to be a teacher, yet disastrously unaware of the hidden obstacles that lie to crush his or her dreams.
Yours sincerely,
Alfian Bin Sa'at
**********************
And two weeks later, I got this:
Dear Mr. Alfian,
Thank you for your e-mail and we appreciate you taking the time to write to us. We have read your e-mail with great concern and do appreciate your feedback.
2 In the processing of relief teacher applicatons, we will usually give provisional approval due to the urgency of need at school level, pending further registration formalities. This is why you were initially appointed by East View Sec from 16 Apr to 11 May 07. Upon consideration of your application, we were not able to approve your registration as a relief teacher. Unfortunately, due to an oversight, the school has appointed you again on 14 May 07. We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused.
3 We would like to explain that as an employer, the Ministry of Education sets stringent criteria in the recruitment of relief teachers. This is understandably so when we strive to achieve a high standard in Education. With keen competition, this Ministry has an arduous task of considering each applicant based on several factors. MOEneeds to determine which applicants most appropriately meet its organisational needs. In the registering of relief teachers, we look at each applicant in view of the specific requirements of the Ministry at the time, considering each application as a whole, on its own merit. While many capable candidates apply every year, only those that best meet the organisation's requirements will be considered for appointment.
4 We are sorry that we would not be able to approve your application for registration as a relief teacher. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to respond to your feedback and we hope this information has been useful to you. We wish you every success in your future endeavours.
For more information on HR matters, please refer to our HR Online at http://intranet.moe.gov.sg/hr_online/circulars01.htm.
regards
Ms XXXXXXX XXX
**********************
Dear good people of MOE,
Do you seriously consider the below to be a reply to my queries?
1) What are the components of the 'stringent criteria' that you have mentioned?
2) What are these 'several factors' by which an application is considered?
3) What are the 'organisational needs' which I have obviously failed to meet as a relief teacher?
4) What are the 'specific requirements' of the Ministry at this time, at this particular point in history, with regards to the hiring of relief teachers?
5) Am I to assume that since you consider "each application as a whole, on its own merit", therefore one or more of these components in my application has been prejudicial to my employment?
a) Name
b) Gender
c) Birth date
d) Nationality
e) Country of Birth
f) Race
g) Religion
h) Address and Telephone Number
i) 'O' Level Results (10 A1's)
j) 'A' Level Results (4 A's, 1 A1 in GP)
k) Previous Employment History (Resident Playwright, W!ld Rice)
l) My lack of a medical condition, illness, disease, mental illness or physical
impairment
m) My lack of a criminal record in Singapore
n) My lack of a conviction in a court of law in any other country
o) My not being charged with any offence in a court of law in any country for which the
outcome is pending
p) My not being under any financial embarrassment
q) My record of never having been dismissed from a Government Service/Government-Aided
School/Statutory Board
(Of course, with your recent machinations, you have managed to alter the record I mention in point q)
6) Am I also to assume also that since my application was assessed, as you have mentioned, "as a whole, on its own merit", that whatever information that has influenced your decision was located autonomously within my on-line application?
7) Can you thus say that there is thus nothing duplicitous in stating that my application was assessed "as a whole, on its own merit"?
There is a section in the GCE 'O' Level English Paper known as Situational Writing, where I believe candidates are sometimes expected to write a letter.
Your letter is littered with an alarming amount of bureaucratese--"stringent criteria", "based on several factors", "organisational needs" and "specific requirements". In fact I would use it as a negative example in a classroom, to teach my students against a kind of writing which is designed for obfuscation instead of elucidation. I will point out to them how this very abuse of language is what pollutes human interaction in our society, how it forecloses any form of genuine dialogue. I respect the word, along with its ability to convey truth and knowledge, and any attempt to use it for contrary purposes I view with much distress.
If I was still a teacher, I would give your letter a failing grade.
Yours sincerely,
Alfian Bin Sa'at
**********************
What redress does the ordinary citizen have against the bureaucracy?
I don't know.
What I know is, I've weaved some elements of the above into my new play.
Come and watch!
(Post a new comment)
 | wow gold - (Anonymous), 2008-09-09 22:33:14 |
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(Anonymous)
2007-06-07 11:27
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call them up? at any rate, just go back to the school to take photos with the students. poor students. rapid fire changes in teachers always affect them the worst, both emotionally and academically. (Reply to this) (Thread) |
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 blueasthesky
2007-06-07 14:47
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Alfian - this is both such a deep embarrassment and a shocking disgrace. I thought nothing could move me anymore from the lil island but I am appalled by MOE's bureacratic, obscurantist (good word!) tactics and ridiculously meaningless words. Can't you take this to another level? - an ombudsman (ok, quit the shrieks of laughter)... I mean, at the very least, surely these constitute grounds for unfair dismissal?? I frankly see nothing that wouldn't make it a good case and imo you have really been treated appallingly.
What else can I do but give you my every sympathy. I would (and would dearly love to) watch your play (congrats, btw!) if I could. At least you got something out of this, though for art to mirror life in such a manner is almost a travesty too.
(Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-06-08 02:18
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I find it interesting that they have provided an INTRANET link on their HR policies.
The link cannot be accessed at all via INTERNET!
(Reply to this) (Thread) |
| Posted this post on SBF, hope you didn't mind 
(Anonymous)
2007-06-08 08:35
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Hey Alfian,
I took the liberty of posting this on SBF, hope you don't mind.
Cheers,
Trout(Reply to this) (Thread) |
| SBF - Sammyboy Forums
(Anonymous)
2007-06-08 14:17
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Hey Alfian,
the place where you posted some of your views on the malay voting bloc (ajukanied or something, your nick) after last GE. I guessed it was you after reading that post.
Cheers,
Trout(Reply to this) (Thread) |
| re:
(Anonymous)
2007-06-09 01:37
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Dear Alfian,
Your rebuttals were wonderfully incisive and witty. It makes the MOE people look like fools but they will still continue to chant their meaningless mantra about adhering to "stringent criteria" and choosing applicants on the basis of "merit". I empathize with your incredulity, outrage and bewilderment. It is their loss not to engage someone like you, while allowing hordes of mediocrities who are driven purely by monetary motivations to flood the classrooms.
Like you, I faced a similar situation last year over my RT application. I received the rejection letter after one month of employment, which could not have been due to the lack of credentials (I have a Lit Honours degree and I was teaching Lit and English, not Physics), or my incompetency in the classroom, as I'd constantly received positive and affirming feedback from my supervisors. Unlike you, I did not write in formally to pursue the matter, perhaps too stricken by how ludicrous the whole matter was, but I did call in and had some very frustrating conversations with people who seemed robotically programmed, insisting that they evaluated applicants very strictly and they were unable to disclose the reasons for my rejection, in some pseudo-apologetic tone. Since then, I've sought successful employment in independent schools, and it is a matter that I've put behind me, something that I recount over dinner from time to time, while speculating the basis behind the MOE blacklist. (A principal friend told me that someone she knew got turned down, as she had distributed political pamphlets on campus, so MOE seems really paranoid about filtering out 'subversive' elements!)
All the best for your upcoming play.
Pamela(Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-06-09 12:24
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I got here from mollymeek on LJ. Before this, I'd only heard about how bad things can get. But reading your actual correspondence is really something else. I'm bracing myself. I tend to get too indignant and righteous about things. And I'm currently interning at a civil service institution....one that deals with the death penalty(go figure)....and I haven't been able to get anyone to give me their opinion on it, not even in a diplomatic toe-the-line way. I'm doing research for them and there seems to be an obsession with proving causality using the most spurious statistics possible, nothing goes beyond basic percentages and frequencies using Excel!! If these form the basis of our policies....I can see why things are the way they are today.
Ok sorry, that was a mini rant on my part. Not entirely related to your own plight but a general civilservice bashing.
In any case, thank you for sharing. At least it's helping to create more awareness.
What's the title of your play?
~Jainy(Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-06-09 13:38
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hey alfian,
I got here linked by a few friends. I just wanna say that I think MOE is damned unfair lah, not to mention stupid. Did they reply to your email? I bet they'd just ignore it and say "thank you for your invaluable feedback." *rolls eyes* I hate that obfuscation nonsense too. The words don't actually mean anything, and I think they're quite silly to believe that we'll be fooled by that bullshit (or they just expect us to heel).(Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-06-09 20:10
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Hey Alfian, you're too talented for Singapore. Please, for your own sake...get the hell out of there. (Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-06-09 22:56
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alfian
dont waste your talent.
go to a place where you can thrive before it is too late.
you are ahead of your time.
(Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-06-10 03:11
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I'm sorry to hear that MOE has rejected such a talent like you. I second someone's post above for you to pursue your teaching aspirations in an independent or semi-independent school like Hwa Chong, schools that have more autonomy over hiring decisions. I'm sure you will be much welcomed. (Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-06-10 05:14
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this is definitely newsworthy for the national paper in sg. unfortunately a government owned paper would probably never go against their own ministry of education.
sorrow.
i wish you all the best alfian, you're truly a talent in singapore, and it seems like goh chok tong's claims on 'allowing' gay people into the civil service is a pile of bullshit.(Reply to this) (Thread) |
| PAPanon guessing
(Anonymous)
2007-06-10 11:04
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Isn't the MOE minister a PAP newcomer by the name of Lui something.. also an ex-SAF person.
Didn't he recently comment to the media his thoughts on homosexuality? i believe he said something to the effect of equating gays to psychopaths.... some drastic outrageous crap.
Hmmm......(Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-06-10 12:47
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I empathize with you and this makes me even more unwilling to return to SG after I graduate from the US. I would love to see this matter being taken to an international level. (Reply to this) (Thread) |
| MOE does not want me too!!!
(Anonymous)
2007-06-10 23:54
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Hi Alfian,
I got the same situation as you. I applied for the relief teaching scheme while waiting for the outcome of my job applications. I have already max out my education with a Phd from a prestigious overseas university in addition to having several years of industry experience as well as having taught in the university for several years. After the tedious online application and a month, MOE replied with a one liner that i was found "unsuitable"
Was it because i was too overqualified and therefore too expensive? Or was it my letters published in the ST forum that had critiqued the ministry for making students return to school during holidays, overworked and underpaid teachers and overpaid Native speakers of the English Language?
I thought i could share my experiences with a younger generation.
KK (Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-06-11 01:16
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Hi Alfian,
I'm appalled and deeply sadden by what happened to you. But I'm glad you brought this up.
MOE has over-publicized its pedagogies and master plans. What Singaporeans see, is not the exact situation it really is. I wonder if they really know what they are doing, changing the syllabus every so often, but not knowing how difficult and the contraints people face in the execution. Are they really doing the students any good? They want everything, but in the end do the students get anything out of it? It always makes me cringe whenever I read about what MOE has come out with, again.
Like what they always say, a happy salesperson maketh a satisfied customer. Similarly, a sane teacher maketh a good learner. But sadly, it's the reverse over here.
I do hope you stay in Singapore, Alfian. We need people like you to make things change. Maybe not overnight, but it's a good start.
Take care. And I will see you at your new play. :)
JC(Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-06-11 03:41
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im so amused that they ask you to refer to MOE intranet. how to access intranet when you are no longer under their employment? SACK THAT Ms XXXXXXX XXX !!! grrr ... (Reply to this) (Thread) |
| A similar experience from another govt agency
(Anonymous)
2007-06-11 04:54
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Hi Alfian,
I'm an admirer of your postings on Wankshed for a long while now and often - many of those postings resonate with me. I tried looking for some of your poetry when i was last back in Singapore (i work in HK) but couldn't find them anywhere!
anyway - i used to write for a small magazine in Singapore a long time ago - its on personal investments. So - for a cover story, i had to write about investments using CPF money. After consulting a few people from the finance industry, property, insurance etc etc, i wrote a piece on whats best to do with the money - rather than leaving it lying there earning only Savings interest.
As i finished the piece way ahead of my deadline, i called up the CPF Board PR people and said that i have written this piece, and would like to have the CPF Board comment about it. my editor was prepared to give them another extra page for a sidebar story. in fact, they had 2 weeks to respond to my piece. We actually faxed the draft article across to them!
I continued to connect with the PR executive over that 2 weeks - asking them if they have comments, etc. On my deadline day, i made a final call to them - telling them its going to print today, and whether they plan to comment. The PR person said no, everything's ok, this is your opinion and you have a right to publish it.
But lo and behold, when the magazine hit the stands, we received an very nice letter from the CPF Board - basically chasticising (sp?) me for writing that piece - saying that i'm irresponsible to suggest people to screw up their lifetime savings. and i like the last bit..."You are to print our letter in full or otherwise face the repercussions"...or something to that extent.
sigh...life in Singapore.(Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-06-11 12:41
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hi there =) i'm just a not so random passer-by who feels awfully wronged on your behalf, i guess it sucks that our society is still so backward, unaccepting, and unwilling to even defend their policies. You know, they really don't deserve someone like you, though it's ironic how the only people losing out are the kids themselves. Nurturing the future of our nation huh? some slogan of theirs.
be strong dude =)(Reply to this) (Thread) |
| Hello Alfian
(Anonymous)
2007-06-11 23:47
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Hello Alfian
Fong Shui Master say that for changes to your luck, you should changed your name from Alfian Bin Sa'at to Tan Ah Teck then probably they (MOE) would re-instated you back as relief teacher.
You should know by now, the disadvantage of having this 'bin' name in your NRIC. and probably, 'big brother' is watching over your activites.
If the recent Abdul Basheer is around operating, there could be more..........(Reply to this) (Thread) |
| there are rules and there are unwritten laws..
(Anonymous)
2007-06-12 00:00
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all i have to say is that freedom of speech comes with a high a price.. is Singapore ready? by the looks of this episode, i guess not. Do not copy the western countries or model ourself to be like them, Singapore has succeeded and will continue to succeed is due to the hardwork, cooperation of both government and the people. The sacrifices of some freedom is evitable to ensure peace, prosperity and happiness, for Singapore and for the people. Irresponsible remarks, various hardline idealogies, the mere fact that many younger Singaporeans now take a lot of the things we have, we have achieved for granted is already sad enough without various iconic figures adding fuel to it. You, like many others, have been allowed several luxuries, yet instead of building on it, you kept pushing and pushing for more. Put yourself in the party shoes.. with threats of terrorism, economic challenges, aging population, racial disharmony, religous identity, disparity in income, homeless and health care.. why do we not harp about our success, take pride of what have been achieved that allowed each of us all these opportunities as compared to living in countries like Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Tibet, etc.. If indeed the future of Singapore rests in hands like you and me, then I do agree with the goverment, we are indeed damning ourselves. (Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-06-12 04:24
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Hi alfian--just read about end of your relief teaching career on sayoni and want to say it's stupid/ I'm angry/ I'm sorry... plus so tragic (for short staffed school & students). Was wondering whether I should also write in to ask MOE about requirements for relief teachers... because I really don't understand what they mean by 'stringent' criteria and am also unable to access their intranet site. I mean, I got fewer A1 distinctions than you & I have done relief teaching before... or maybe I would be rejected now.
Maybe we should ALL write in to ask!
Anyway, all the best. I do hope you do not decide to leave Singapore for good, but that is when I think of what would be best for the people--especially the young people--here. Putting your needs first I would buy you a ticket out. You could survive/make it/be a success anywhere in the world you choose, I suspect. But you could really help make a difference here by staying.
Ovidia
(Aaargh! No! Forget what I said! Get out while you're still alive! Run! Run! Run!!!!) (Reply to this) (Thread) |
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