NTU or NIE straight?

[nabiltan]

Hello guys,

Ive been pondering on this for the past year and i need some advice.
Ive always wanted to be a teacher and so,i applied for both a bachelor in sociology and bachelor in education both at ntu.
I got offered both courses. I was told that the nie degree is not as recognized and that i should take a general degree then proceed to nie after 4 years. a year difference is a lot considering i am a guy. I also heard that a general degree allows you to "climb" faster up the ladder if you become a teacher.

Help pls!

 

[Havok_ex]

There are pros and cons. Firstly, getting a degree in NIE means that your fees for the 4 years are paid for by MOE and you also get an allowance, I think. You will also confirm get a teaching position, in a sense, your career is already there. If you take the BA in sociology, you have to do an extra year PGDE, post-graduate diploma in education. This is also paid for. However, getting into this course is actually quite difficult it seems. Its not guaranteed that you will get in. The positive thing about the soci degree is that you are not limited to teaching only and can do other things if you decide not to go into teaching after graduation.

Generally, most people who graduated with an honours degree that is not from NIE will be eligible to teach at the JC level. NIE grads are only able to teach until secondary level, there are a few exceptions, but very little. At the JC level, you will deal with less delinquents and disciplinary issues, hence the load is slightly lighter.

Climbing up the ladder is relative, both your teaching skills and honours will come into play. First class grads will of course climb the fastest.

 

[nabiltan]

There are pros and cons. Firstly, getting a degree in NIE means that your fees for the 4 years are paid for by MOE and you also get an allowance, I think. You will also confirm get a teaching position, in a sense, your career is already there. If you take the BA in sociology, you have to do an extra year PGDE, post-graduate diploma in education. This is also paid for. However, getting into this course is actually quite difficult it seems. Its not guaranteed that you will get in. The positive thing about the soci degree is that you are not limited to teaching only and can do other things if you decide not to go into teaching after graduation.

Generally, most people who graduated with an honours degree that is not from NIE will be eligible to teach at the JC level. NIE grads are only able to teach until secondary level, there are a few exceptions, but very little. At the JC level, you will deal with less delinquents and disciplinary issues, hence the load is slightly lighter.

Climbing up the ladder is relative, both your teaching skills and honours will come into play. First class grads will of course climb the fastest.

Hmm... Yeah ure right. This is cause i have been offered both last year and i have to confirm my choice by feb or march. I really do not want to be stuck teaching at secondary level. The choice of teaching at jc is really attractive and if doing the nie degree means i am stuck at secondary school, thats quite sad. Is there no chance of teaching at a higher level with the nie degree? Even after years of experience? If not, i think ill take the general degree first.

 

[pencil2012]

Definitely 100% go for the general degree. Halfway through yr degree, you may change yr mind about being a teacher, and if you are in the NIE course, then you may find it hard to jump out.

 

[Havok_ex]

Hmm... Yeah ure right. This is cause i have been offered both last year and i have to confirm my choice by feb or march. I really do not want to be stuck teaching at secondary level. The choice of teaching at jc is really attractive and if doing the nie degree means i am stuck at secondary school, thats quite sad. Is there no chance of teaching at a higher level with the nie degree? Even after years of experience? If not, i think ill take the general degree first.

Experience makes you a better teacher, but in terms of content, you will not have the JC level content in your knowledge base. On top of that, JC students, especially those from the top schools, tend to ask questions out of the syllabus and further in depth. With just knowledge gained from NIE, you wont be able to answer them.

You will promote, but you wont get to teach JC students.

 

[nabiltan]

Wow, thank you guys for all the replies. Really helped me make my decision much easier

 

[Geforce3]

ntu one first, u can always join moe later if you want. Or you can get a MOE TA or TS

 

[syeechee]

U can also teach in Poly after ur bachelor, assuming you do well enough.

 

[a&w_rootbeerz]

U can also teach in Poly after ur bachelor, assuming you do well enough.

Must have few years of industry experience first.

 

[syeechee]

Get out to the world to experience what it is like in the corporate. Go into teaching a few years after and you will have experience to share with your students. Lecturing in polytechnic is much lighter (in terms of scope of work) than primary and secondary schools.