An estimated 7,500 teaching and teaching-support jobs will be available next year in Singapore, the country's Ministry of Education (MOE) announced on Tuesday.

The MOE and its schools will recruit more than 3,500 jobs, while institutes of higher learning and kindergarten sector project will have another 4,000 jobs in 2009, said Ng Eng Hen, the country's Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defense, at the 11th Appointment Ceremony for Principals.

The MOE will also invest in new infrastructure and centralized facilities in areas such as the arts, music and sports development, and provide more help to needy students during the current economic downturn, said Ng.

"We must provide help to overcome short-term difficulties, we must not allow this crisis, even a global one, to distract us from preparing for the future," the minister said.

The education sector in Singapore currently employs some 29,400 teachers.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2008)