The Impact of Governmentality and Performativity on Teachers’ Work in Singapore from 1983 to 2011

Abstract

While the successes and achievements of Singapore and its education system have been widely acknowledged and recognized in the world, predominantly via the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS; TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Centre, n.d.) and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD], n.d.), the daily struggles and sacrifices of its teachers do not feature prominently in the accounts. As a former teacher and retired teacher–educator, I have undertaken a deeply meaningful autoethnographic study, drawing on my experiences of interactions and conversations with colleagues who are either reti..