Did you know that the phrase “Teach Less, Learn More” (TLLM) actually has its roots in educational research? We asked some NIE trainee teachers what they thought of this idea.

“Less is more” is a view articulated by the American school reformer Ted Sizer. He argued that schools should limit and simplify their goals so that every student might master a limited number of essential skills and areas of knowledge, rather than race to cover broader content in conventionally defined “subjects”.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong gave this a Singaporean twist in his National Day Rally speech last year by coining the now-famous phrase, “Teach Less, Learn More”. But how does this translate into practice in schools? What are the implications for teachers and students? Here’s what they had to say.

Question 1: What do you understand by TLLM?