Some see the need, some feel unprepared: Teachers navigate Gaza war in classroom

Some raise concerns, others welcome MOE lessons on Israel-Hamas conflict

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Secondary school teacher Rachel Tan (not her real name) stepped into her classroom on Feb 28 with some apprehension - she was about to teach a class on the war in Gaza and felt ill-equipped for the questions that might come from her students.

The science teacher in her early 20s had attended two 45-minute sessions in early February with her school's Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) head of department to prepare for the lesson, but still did not feel confident.

"I didn't stay (on top of) the issue, so it may be a bit awkward if I can't answer some questions. I think it might've been better if the package was conducted during a social studies lesson," she said.

A junior college teacher of seven years said a class taught by his school's CCE head turned tense when students raised questions about Israel's shelling of civilian targets, such as hospitals, in Gaza.

The two were among more than 20 teachers and principals from primary and secondary schools and junior colleges that The Straits Times interviewed about the lessons, which the Ministry of Education (MOE) rolled out in mid-February 2024.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the majority of the teachers interviewed - who were of all ethnicities and had between two and 26 years of teaching experience shared various concerns, including feeling ill-prepared and worries about backlash from parents.

They also felt the content they were provided did not have enough historical context and was oversimplistic.

CCE lessons cover a range of contemporary issues, including mental well-being and casual racism. But the latest lessons on the Israel-Hamas conflict have become a lightning rod for criticism, with parents also raising concerns over the teaching material.