Singapore Tamil Teachers’ Union

The Singapore Tamil Teachers’ Union (STTU), which represents Tamil Language teachers in government and government-aided schools, as well as pre-university institutions in Singapore, was registered as a trade union in 1951. M Jesudasan was its first President. Although the union was primarily established to provide job security, welfare, and professional development for Tamil Language teachers, it has played a vital role in the growth and development of the Tamil Language in Singapore. The union started with 50 members and grew to over 550 members by the 2020s. STTU is the first teachers’ union to be affiliated with the National Trades Union Congress. It is also a member of the ASEAN Council of Teachers and Education International. 

A major achievement of STTU is moving the teacher training for Tamil Language teachers from Malaysia (Johor Bahru) to Singapore. Other major achievements include ensuring equal pay for Tamil Language teachers to match teachers working in English Language schools, and the purchase of the union’s own premises. STTU has also played a vital role in the introduction of degree programmes in Tamil at both the Singapore University of Social Sciences and the National Institute of Education. STTU conceptualised and hosted the first Word Tamil Teachers’ Conference in 1992 in Singapore. Additionally, under STTU’s leadership, the World Tamil Teachers Federation was established, with its headquarters in Singapore. STTU publishes a student publication known as Sutti Mayil (Mischievous Peacock), a monthly magazine designed to develop reading skills among Tamil students. STTU also publishes a Tamil periodical, Tamil Teachers’ Voice, to provide a platform to discuss matters related to Tamil Language education in Singapore. To celebrate Singapore’s 50th anniversary of Independence in 2015, STTU published a commemorative collection of essays titled Singapore’s Tamil Education.

In recognition of the important role played by Tamil teachers in promoting the Tamil Language, STTU has been organising the Most Inspiring Tamil Teacher Award (MITT) annually, together with Tamil Murasu, since 2002. In addition, since 2012, a Lifetime Achievement Award has been added to MITT to recognise the significant contributions of retired Tamil Language teachers to the teaching and learning of the Tamil Language in Singapore. 



For more information
Singapore Tamil Teachers’ Union. Accessed 1 August 2025. https://www.sttu.org.sg

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The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.