Jamus Lim urges more teaching aides, says AI cannot replace teachers

SINGAPORE: On 6 February 2026, Associate Professor Jamus Lim said advances in educational technology cannot replace the role of human teachers, renewing the Workers’ Party’s long-standing call for smaller class sizes in schools.

In a Facebook post, the Workers’ Party Member of Parliament for Sengkang GRC said technology may supplement learning, but does not address the fundamental need for sufficient human educators in classrooms.

According to Assoc Prof Lim, the party has consistently championed smaller class sizes for nearly two decades, including in its 2006 manifesto, but has seen limited progress in education policy.

Research and classroom experience underpin WP’s position

He said substantial research supports the case for reducing class sizes, particularly in earlier grades and when numbers fall from around 40 to 30 students per class.

While acknowledging nuance in the evidence, Assoc Prof Lim said smaller classes are widely accepted as easier to manage and better for sustaining student engagement.

Drawing on his own experience as a university educator, he said he was better able to involve students in discussions and case studies when teaching groups of about 20 rather than 40.

He added that these observations applied even to motivated university students, underscoring the challenges teachers face in larger classrooms.

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Limits of artificial intelligence in education

In recent years, some educators have argued that artificial intelligence and classroom technology can offer customised instruction to bridge learning gaps.

Assoc Prof Lim described this as an appealing idea, but one that ultimately falls short when examined through the lens of cognitive science.

He said research shows humans are wired to learn best from other humans rather than screens, citing literature synthesising findings from learning and memory research.

“While EdTech may be a nice supplement, it cannot replace an actual teacher,” he wrote, referring readers to academic work and public testimony supporting this view.

Teaching aides proposed as interim solution

Acknowledging arguments that resource constraints make immediate reductions in class sizes difficult, Assoc Prof Lim said an intermediate solution exists.

He suggested that MOE could increase the number of teaching aides in classrooms to improve the educator-to-student ratio while working towards smaller classes.

He pointed to Allied Educators in Teaching and Learning as an example of such support roles that previously existed within schools.

Assoc Prof Lim said he found MOE’s decision to scale back these roles puzzling, particularly as they directly support classroom teaching rather than specialised services.

He noted that while MOE has increased hiring of school counsellors and special educational needs officers, these roles are not substitutes for teaching aides in mainstream classrooms.

Desmond Lee: MOE tailors class sizes to student needs

This issue formed the basis of a supplementary question he raised in Parliament earlier in the week to Education Minister Desmond Lee.

Assoc Prof Lim said he believed he and Minister Lee shared a similar diagnosis of the problem, and said he was awaiting further moves from MOE.

His comments followed remarks made by Minister Lee during the parliamentary sitting on 3 February 2026, where the minister outlined MOE’s approach to class sizes.

Minister Lee said MOE is guided by students’ learning needs, with smaller classes and more teaching resources provided to those requiring greater support.

He cited examples where class sizes vary significantly depending on the nature of support required, especially for younger pupils and those with learning or behavioural needs.

According to Minister Lee, Primary 1 and Primary 2 classes are kept at around 30 students, while much smaller TRANSIT classes support pupils with social and behavioural challenges.

Targeted programmes and differentiated class sizes

He also highlighted targeted small-group interventions such as the Learning Support Programme and dyslexia remediation classes.

At the secondary level, Minister Lee said Full Subject-Based Banding allows subject class sizes to range from 20 to 40 students.

In some cases, he added, classes may have two form teachers where possible to provide additional support.

Support extends beyond class size

Minister Lee stressed that educational support goes beyond class size alone, pointing to expanded counselling and special educational needs services.

He said the number of trained school counsellors and special educational needs officers has increased from about 800 to 1,300 over the past decade.

“We will continue to study the effectiveness of our approach, including on class sizes, and are prepared to adjust our strategies where necessary,” he said in Parliament.

Shared emphasis on the human touch

During his supplementary question, Assoc Prof Lim cited cognitive science research suggesting humans learn best through interaction with other humans.

He said AI-enabled customised education “is not a justifiable substitute” for human teaching.

He asked whether MOE would consider alternatives to simply reducing class sizes, including increasing the number of teachers or teaching assistants within classrooms.

He also questioned MOE’s decision to scale back Allied Educators in Teaching and Learning roles.

MOE: EdTech supports but does not replace teachers

In response, Minister Lee thanked him for supporting efforts to augment the teaching force with allied educators.

He referred to school counsellors, special educational needs officers, and outdoor education allied educators as part of a more specialised support model.

Minister Lee said this shift allows MOE to tailor support more precisely to students’ differing needs.

He acknowledged that educational technology, including AI tools on the Student Learning Space, allows some degree of customisation.

“EdTech AI in the SLS space allows our children to get extra scaffolding and support in class and outside the class,” he said.

However, Minister Lee emphasised that technology cannot replace teachers.

“There is no substitute for human-based teaching, for the human touch,” he said, adding that EdTech should never be viewed as a replacement for educators.