While the committee said it took note of the education ministry’s initial efforts to overcome the problem of overworked teachers by going down to the ground and talking to teachers who are also serving as wardens, it noted the ministry has yet to outline a solution.

“Considering that the admission process for fully residential schools will get underway this weekend, it is timely for the ministry to announce measures to ease the burden of teachers who are also carrying out the duties of wardens,” said the committee in a statement.

“The committee urges the ministry to act as soon as possible to ensure that the burden of teachers is reduced as soon as possible.”

Form 1 and Form 4 students who have gained admission into fully residential schools such as national religious secondary schools (SMKA), technical secondary schools (SMT), vocational colleges (KV) and the Royal Military College (RMC) will be allowed to register physically from May 13 to 16.

Stressing that the position of full-time hostel wardens should be equivalent to that of a full-time coach, registered counsellor or laboratory assistant, the committee recommended that the ratio of the number of wardens to students must be “realistic and adequate”.

It said while teachers can be appointed as wardens, their teaching responsibilities should be reduced.

“As an initial, short-term step, the ministry should increase the warden’s allowance for teachers who take on the task,” it said.

Last December, deputy education minister Mah Hang Soon said the ministry will study the proposal to create full-time warden posts in residential schools to tackle problems such as bullying.