SINGAPORE, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Education Ministry will spend 250 million Singapore dollars (about 159.5 million U.S. dollars) over the next three years to attract, motivate and retain good teachers.

According to a statement by the ministry on Monday, it was revealed by Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam while addressing a group of more than 5,000 education officers.

The minister introduced the new GROW package, namely, for the professional and personal growth of education officers, through better recognition, opportunities, and seeing to their well-being.

Currently, Singaporean teachers with six years of service enjoy one month of half-pay leave for every year of service. But from next year, some 8,000 teachers with at least 12 years of service can take a full term off at full pay to study, do a work attachment or research.

The ministry will also invest more in the personal development of teachers, and these include expenses for books, magazine subscriptions or language courses.

The ministry is increasing contributions by 20 to 30 percent in the CONNECT plan - a scheme to encourage teachers to stay on.

The ministry will also set up a new Center for Teacher Development in 1 to 2 years' time, and the new center will be a physical icon for the teaching profession, a place where teachers from different schools can come together to learn from one another and work on projects together. Enditem