ISSUE 62 APR– JUN 2017 Going beyond the classroom to ensure every child loves what he is learning. A Call To Sharing Learning, Teach Expertise The S’pore PASSIONATE BUILDING TIES Way EDUCATORS WHO WITH MYANMAR HELPING TO GO THE EXTRA MILE THROUGH TECHNICAL ENRICH THE EDUCATION GLOBAL EDUCATIONAL ECO-SYSTEM

EXPERIENCE SINGAPORE

Education, EVOLVED Teaching Singapore students to excel beyond academics

A NEWSLETTER OF THE SINGAPORE COOPERATION PROGRAMME

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Apr–Jun www.scp.gov.sg Ed’s Ed’s C 2017 Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore Public Affairs Directorate Director

‘educational’, and provide food for thought. for food provide and ‘educational’, for passion of students. groups —to different their education for childhood recognised early and musical cultural, —in knowledge been imparting have who teachers award-winning three highlights teach to A call service. active in teachers 33,105 were there of 2015, As system. education Education. of Technical Institutes and train to Myanmar after Singapore’s is modelled helping SMVTI The workforce. its upgrade is — Myanmar and Singapore between project joint a — (SMVTI) Institute Training Vocational in technical education sectors. private and public the both in initiatives ecosystem. educational global the to enrich nations other with collaborates assistance now from Singapore forward, it pay To benefitted countries. other by it provided nation-building; of years early world transistion. first-to-third Singapore’s in role critical a played education how competitive. remain and them of change winds economic the to equipped ride needed skills the with has citizens its educating in approach nimble Dear readers,

We hope this issue of Experience Singapore issue this We hope Singapore’s of backbone the are teachers say, to Needless expertise Singapore’s sharing through ties Building those in education-wise, alone, it go not did Singapore Issue 62 after it achieved Independence in 1965, a flexible and and flexible a 1965, in Independence achieved it after progressed nation the — as effective system education Singapore’s keeps that constant only the is hange features three three way features Singapore the Learning, read magazineonline Scan Like to QR Code to Note SCP Friends shows how the Singapore-Myanmar Singapore-Myanmar the how shows Education, evolved Education,

on FacebookFollow uson Twitter takes a look at at a look takes Singapore under the Singapore Share with us your memories, memories, your us with Share will prove prove will photos and experiences in in experiences and photos Cooperation Programme. Email us at [email protected] in touch! Keep

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CONTENTS education ecosystem. with other nationsto enrichtheglobal Singapore isconstantly collaborating SingaporeLearning,way the their passion for education. Award-winning teachers talk about Acall toteach Training Institute. for theSingapore-Myanmar Vocational Singapore shares skillsandknowledge education in technical sharing Singapore’s expertise Building tiesthrough global landscape. Singaporeans relevant amidacompetitive A flexible education system has kept Education, evolved Joining Hands In Singapore Reflections Focus Mediacorp Pte Ltd Publishing Consultant Singapore Experience www.timesprinters.com. ISSN: 0219-2896 Printed inSingapore by Times Printers. withoutpermissionor inpart isprohibited. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole Copyright ©isheldby thepublishers. experience withother developing countries. aimed atsharingSingapore’s developmental Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, and is Programme (SCP) isadministered by the Singapore. The Singapore Cooperation Directorates of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs, Public Affairs andTechnical Cooperation

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Cover Photos: Ministry of Education, Singapore, National Youth Council

Photos: Ministry of Education, Singapore, National Youth Council S competitive global landscape. landscape. global competitive increasingly an amid relevant stay Singaporeans younger that — so needs to changing quickly adapts system the that to ensure nimble policies keeps also (MOE) Education of Ministry Singapore’s invested**, money of amount the on depend only training. skills and education to higher related matters for Ye responsible is Ong Mr Kung Skills) and Education (Higher Education of Minister while levels, college to junior pre-school from institutes educational to oversee tasked is Meng Chee Ng Mr (Schools) Education of Minister portfolio. the for Ministers two of education has been the unprecedented appointment cent. per by1.9 further to increase projected is expense 2017, this Budget Singapore the to According Defence. after 2016, in item expenditure second-largest the was Education 2016. in billion to S$12.66 1981 in million S$942 about from years, the over steadily increased has education on expenditure total government’s Singapore The capital. human except resources natural no country has that a Singapore like for significant especially are these — skills page). following the on box (see tests international top regularly students today, Singaporean illiterate; largely was population its ago, decades Five education. on emphasis hearted

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examinations, and later to do a job, these are are these a job, to do later and examinations, workers. skilled more to produce expanded was education and vocational technical Specifically, Singapore’s industrially-based economy. to drive workforce atrained to producing 1987. by English in conducted were lessons school All identity. cultural to retain enacted was tongue amother of learning the marketplace, global the in compete and to communicate races different of citizens enable would language W practicality. and cohesion social to establish made was policy The implemented. was schools, government-aided or government all in language a second of study the enforces which policy, bilingualism a 1966, In built. rapidly were schools and developed was curriculum Abasic to all. accessible education to make was business of order first government’s the and phase driven asurvival- in —was 1965 in independence —post Singapore in system education The LEARNING 10.7 years

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tatistics Sing do team suchasrafting. sports the common spaces in their schools daily. schools their in spaces common the clean levels) college junior and to secondary through primary (from students all that 2016) end- (by compulsory made was it responsibility, social and personal of asense instil further person, To country. to the confident contributor active an a become and citizen concerned learner, self-directed them help to values core students’ developing on focuses CCE 2014. in out rolled was which syllabus, (CCE) Education & Citizenship Character the is latest The students. in habits and values good an to inculcate schools in introduced been tohave response his in Yew, 1979. in report Education Kuan Lee Mr Minister way,” Prime late the wrote civilised a in cooperate and contend work, live, can who citizens nurtures it whether is education agood of test However, litmus the important. technology to lead meaningful and fulfilled fulfilled and meaningful lead to technology by empowered are people —where vision Nation Smart its towards moves Singapore As class. during software computer and Internet the use students where labs, computer in lessons some conducting way is such One learning. self-directed and collaborative to encourage curriculum “thinking” the into integrated been has Technology outcomes. learning better for activities schools’ and curriculum co-curricular their to design autonomy more given were and too, skills thinking their to hone encouraged were principals and Teachers to memorise. had students content factual of amount the on down cutting while skills thinking creative to boost revised was curriculum The edge. competitive are fundamental to Singapore retaining its to changes adapt and innovate to learn, capacity citizens’ its that idea the on based was 1997, in introduced Nation”, Learning Schools, “Thinking vision MOE’s knowledge. technical over research and creativity on more focus to system; education the in shift paradigm knowledge-based economy. This required a to a transitioned Singapore 1990s, the In L Participants of Outward Bound Singapore OOKING apore Towards this end, various programmes programmes various Towards end, this Information and Communication Communication and Information ; Education T O THE FUTURE S tatistics Digest 2016

Photos: Ministry of Education, Singapore, National Youth Council unless exempted on a case-by-case basis. basis. acase-by-case on exempted unless school, primary a national in education Primary complete to minimally have 14 7and between implemented in Singaporeans aged 2003. was Act Education Compulsory the economy, aknowledge-based for citizens prepare and class. in peers with information the sharing before independently research online do students where approach, Classroom Flipped the like pedagogies, schools have also adopted technology-enabled Some reality. augmented and applications gaming mobile includes now technology Educational sophisticated. increasingly is that technology with learning students’ their enhancing and engaging are —schools lives students to focus on their learning instead instead learning their on to focus students to encourage amove in scores, aggregate of AL1 instead to AL8) from Levels’ (‘Achievement bands scoring use will PSLE the From 2021, released. are results (PSLE) Examination Leaving School Primary the before talents and achievements their on based students potential to select schools secondary some to allow 2004 in introduced was scheme (DSA) Admission School Direct The rote learning. on reliance to reduce reviewed been have participants. in adventure of sense a like attributes develop and trails nature via education outdoor promote will OBS) existing already- an of version (a bigger campus the 2020, in To ready be Singapore. north-eastern in Island Coney on campus (OBS) Singapore Bound Outward aS$250-million is that achieve to efforts of life”. example An and work for foundations necessary are communication effective and thinking critical like skills other character, social-emotional competencies and “good 2016, in debate a Parliamentary during recently, said Ng Minister As them. around world the of understanding and abilities leadership character, their develop also should students academics, beyond — education aholistic for need the saw MOE ago, decades two almost as early As GOING To reinforce the importance of education education of To importance the reinforce Examinations and assessment methods methods assessment and Examinations BE YOND GRADES Results Stellar directed learning. collaborative andself- curriculum to encourage integrated into the three years. and Development every Economic Co-operation by theOrganisation for olds andiscoordinated global study of 15-year- for Education”, PISA isa Dubbed the“W Assessment (PISA). International Student in theProgramme for mathematics andscience 2 students. Primary 4andSecondary years andevaluates conducted every four systems. TIMSS is 63 other education beating students from Study (TIMSS) 2016, Mathematics andScience Trends inInternational s where Sing benchmarking te interna Here are two recent place subjects Technology is tudent

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s excellnc forvryone but is a lifelong pursuit of mast ery and schools and institutesof higherlarning, — one that isnolonger just confined to at education from a differnt persp inte Education and lifelongearning l will be Minis on the SkillsFuture movement tha employability. their boost can that skills update or develop adults to help available are programmes upgrading professional and Training education. continuing to promote 2013 under SkillsFuture Singapore (see sidebar) in launched was Institute Learning Lifelong the games. outdoor and trips field organising as play, such through learning encourage schools 2017. To March in so, do Ng Minister said rigour,” necessary the with and fun is learning where skills, and knowledge to acquire place exciting an be should It exams. in well doing about be just not should School doing. is he what love and passions, his grow interests, his discover can child every that so learning of joy the nurturing “ motivation. intrinsic of importance the recognises also move this results, academic competition. peer and grades stellar of achievement the with preoccupied being of

ter f To encourage learning after formal schooling, schooling, formal after learning To encourage on focus excessive reducing Besides grated as one. or Educ STARTING YOUNG vacancies by 2020 for children under18monthsof age. the capacity of centre-based infant care willalso increase to over 8,000 cent inthepast five years to about140,000. To meet thegrowing demand, Singapore Budget 2017. Childcare places have increased by over 40per to offer afull-timedegree inearly childhoodeducation. Singapore University of Social Sciences willbethefirst publiclocal university and clearer career pathsfor thevarious jobroles. From July2017, the sector. The plancomprises more training options for mid-career switchers Early ChildhoodManpower Planhasbeenunveiled to attract more to jointhe estimated 4,000 more are neededby 2020. To meet themanpower crunch,an regulatory framework andallstaff must beapproved by ECDA. across thesector. Allpre-schools have to belicensed underacommon Centres Bill was passed inFebruary 2017 to ensure consistent standards a quality assurance certification scheme. The Early ChildhoodDevelopment training hours each year. Pre-schools are also encouraged to participate in standards of early childhoodeducators, whoare advised to clockatleast 20 ECDA offers Continuing Professional Development courses to raise the which comprises kindergartens andchildcare centres. It isresponsible for thedevelopment andregulation of thepre-school sector, smoother transition to formal schools. education inprimary foundational literacy andnumeracy skills, aswell asbuildconfidence for a young children nurture positive attitudes towards learning, develop strong crucial for achild’s development —thatquality pre-school education can help The Singapore government recognises thattheearly years are pr D r Improving theaccessibility of pre-schools was also highlighted inthe There are about16,000 pre-school educators inSingapore andan Thus, theEarly ChildhoodDevelopment Agency (ECDA) was set upin2013. o i qual ve a ion fess tion (Higher Educ i t al y a This will makeuslook t promote i a sm tion and n d upl s Skills lifelong learning W e believe in in e believe i sect ft ) Mr Ong Ye K Exp eri o enc r ung ung ’ s ctive

Singapor e

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Reflections

Myanmar is going through a very special period in its history. A lot of transitional issues — the democratisation as well as liberalisation Building Ties of its economy to be more market-oriented. It is meaningful for Singapore through to contribute to Myanmar in this period, especially Sharing since it has experience in training workers Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Mr Ong Ye Kung, who co-chairs the SMVTI’s Singapore’s Board of Institute

Prime Minister Lee, with then-Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Mr Ong Ye Kung Expertise in at the SMVTI Official Launch. Technical Education The Singapore-Myanmar Vocational Training Institute is modelled after Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education (ITE).

ocated on the grounds of the former Nat such as pedagogy and curriculum. its economy to be more market-oriented. some, this was their first time being away Delivering the Fruits of Labour Mauk Polytechnic High School in Yangon, The Institute was officially launched It is meaningful for Singapore to from home, and outside of Myanmar. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) L the Singapore-Myanmar Vocational by Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong on contribute to Myanmar in this period, At the welcome ceremony, the interns which outlines the gradual handover of Training Institute (SMVTI) is a joint project 9 June 2016. Minister for Education (Higher especially since it has experience in were introduced to their mentors, the SMVTI to Myanmar was signed during between Singapore and Myanmar, to help Education and Skills) Mr Ong Ye Kung, who training workers.” who would guide them along the way Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Mr Goh Thu Ya Win, a graduate Myanmar train and upgrade its workforce. co-chairs the SMVTI’s Board of Institute, Modelled after Singapore’s Institute throughout their internship. Chok Tong’s official visit to Myanmar on from the SMVTI course “Residential A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was explained Singapore’s role: “Myanmar is of Technical Education (ITE), the Institute The first batch of graduates are set to 15 March 2017. As part of Singapore’s skills Air-conditioning” during signed in April 2014, with Singapore’s Institute going through a very special period in its conducts 10 six-month courses across four complete their internships in June 2017. and knowledge transfer to Myanmar, the his internship at the Fairmont Hotel of Technical Education Services (ITEES) as history. A lot of transitional issues — the schools, namely Hospitality and Tourism, Apart from the professional experiences, local management team will be groomed to in Singapore. the principal consultant, overseeing areas democratisation as well as liberalisation of Electrical and Electronics, Facilities they also took home new friendships take over the operations of the Institute in Management, and Engineering Services. from Singapore. three years. The Institute enrolled its inaugural batch of 400 students, consisting of 160 H&T students and 240 E&T students respectively. This batch graduated by April 2016, and most of the graduates secured employment within six months.

Opportunities Away From Home Starting from December 2016, the top 20 SMVTI graduates of each year will be offered internships with various companies in Singapore. These internships serve as learning journeys for the graduates by exposing them to real work environments. They learn new skills

and knowledge relevant to the respective Students and trades while on the job. staff gather to take Then-CEO (ITEES) Mr Tan Seng Hua a fun selfie with Prime Minister welcomed the first batch of interns at the Lee and SMVTI’s ITE Academy on 14 December 2016. For management.

Briefing of SIP interns at ITE HQ on 14 December 2016.

6 Apr–Jun 2017 Issue 62 Experience Singapore 7 In Singapore

H Mr Tan teaches A call to E C students of different A age groups and T uses technology to enliven classes.

Three being nominated was an eye-opening award-winning experience. “It gave me an opportunity to meet other global educators, teachers from who share my passion for teaching. I interacted with a teacher who is honing Singapore talk the creativity of children in war zones about their passion — our exchange reminded me of the for education. important role that teachers play.” Text by I started teaching…at 15 for pocket ASHUTOSH RAVIKRISHNAN money. My parents didn’t have much A firm believer in the importance of WHY I MAKE MUSIC… then, and giving music and piano classes musical education, Instead of words, the pages of Mr Philip Tan’s was an important source of income. Mr Tan is committed teenage diaries are filled with musical notes. to making it more accessible to students. “I would record everyday happenings in original The most inspiring teacher in my life A SENSE OF COMMUNITY music compositions,” the 43-year-old said to has been…my mother who gave up Growing up in one of Singapore’s last kampongs Experience Singapore. “Music was my therapy a career to nurture my siblings and I. She always (villages) instilled the importance of community in and soulmate.” had something positive to say, which is an inspiring Mrs Munirah Eszham, 33. As she recalled, “I saw As a freelance musical educator, he hopes to attitude to have. people of different ethnicities coming together to share this power of music with Singapore’s youths. celebrate each other’s festivals, and I think this Mr Tan teaches students of different age groups Music is an integral aspect of education community spirit played a part in maintaining and socioeconomic backgrounds. One memorable because…it’s more than just therapeutic; Singapore’s social cohesion (in our early years).” stint was at a halfway house, where he worked it communicates, fights prejudice and promotes Today, as an English and Social Studies teacher with vulnerable teenagers. “I hope to widen access understanding. Having a musical curriculum at CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School (Primary), Mrs to musical education so that music becomes a bridges, grows and shapes minds. Eszham does her part to nurture this sense of companion of students,” he said. community in her students, aged 11 and 12 years old. For his efforts to deepen students’ appreciation To do this, she creates immersive and innovative for music, Mr Tan was nominated for the annual

learning experiences, such the mock Indian Photos: National Institute of Education, PCF Sparkletots, ACS International, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School (Primary) Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize in wedding she organised last year. That experience 2016. Dubbed the “Nobel Prize for teachers”, Teachers are the backbone of was to hone her students’ cultural awareness and lessons. The excursion gave teachers a chance to the award is presented to teachers who make sensitivity. In 2016, she also led a scavenger hunt share their own observations with students,” said outstanding contributions to the profession. Singapore’s education system. through Singapore’s cultural enclaves to enrich her Mrs Eszham, who began teaching six years ago. Mr Tan was nominated from more than 20,000 As of 2015, there were students’ understanding of the heritage of different Smartphones and She is also committed to learning best practices candidates. Although he did not clinch the award, ethnic groups. mobile apps aren’t from teachers around the world. Last year, 33,105 teachers in Singapore. Her colleagues benefit from Mrs Eszham’s Mrs Eszham had attended a professional commitment to learning too. A firm believer in just great for development course on global educational lifelong learning, she also organises learning entertainment — they strategies and practices in Canada. Her trip was Source: Ministry of Education journeys for them. “For educators to teach with can also be used to sponsored by the Ministry of Education, after passion, they need to be immersed in their subjects,” Mrs Eszham was conferred the Outstanding Youth “I FOLLOWED MY PASSION” she said. On a recent journey, the teachers played make learning fun in Education Award 2016. The annual accolade is Ms Parvinjit Kaur, 37, an educator at the PCF Sparkletots Preschool @ Woodlands tourist and explored Singapore to understand the and immersive presented to teachers below the age of 35 who have Blk 677, was one of five recipients of the Leading Foundation Teacher Award 2016. historic significance behind different street names. shown commendable enthusiasm, energy and active Presented by the National Institute of Education, the annual award honours Mrs Eszham, who uses technology “These are places we discuss in Social Studies to bring her lessons to life involvement in youth development. passionate, dedicated teachers involved in early childhood and special needs education. “I am following my passion (to teach), and receiving the award is just an added Mrs Eszham uses interactive models of teaching to bonus. My educational journey began rather unexpectedly. I was an orthopaedic nurture a sense of community in her students. clinical support specialist for two years. During this time, I had a chance to interact with kids at hospitals and was intrigued by their thought processes, how their sense of curiosity affected the way they thought, acted and behaved. Interacting with them and their parents made me realise that I could make a positive difference in their lives. I made the switch to the early childhood education sector six years ago. Transitioning from the healthcare to the education sector was not easy, but I had supportive leaders and colleagues who helped me apply the concepts I learnt in school. I’ve brought several skills with me from my previous job, like clear communication practices and sharp attention to detail. A child’s development is a two-way street between parents and educators. We’re partners in this journey. That’s why I make it a point to understand and connect with parents — so that they can help their children at home. I hold informal sharing sessions with parents on weekends, to show them how to sharpen their skills, so that they are better-equipped to help their children. I’m also passionate about helping children with special needs, who can sometimes be left behind. As educators, it is important that we prevent this by understanding how Ms Kaur receiving the Leading Foundation Teacher Award 2016 (above) for her work in to serve their needs. I signed up for a course to learn how to better support those with the early childhood sector (left). special needs, and today I share what I’ve learnt with parents and teachers.” Photos: JurongHealth 8 Apr–Jun 2017 Issue 62 Experience Singapore 9 Educare has led Joining Hands professional development programmes for TOP OF more than ust before noon in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, 100 teachers 33,000 teachers are gathered in a classroom to learn how to teach English THE CLASS in Tatarstan. J effectively. The “teacher to the teachers” in this instance is Last December, OECD announced Mr Prakasham Thangaveloo from Singapore, and he explains how that for the first time, Singapore cloze passages, a common language assessment tool in Singapore, had topped its Programme for As part of Educare’s training programme, can promote students’ comprehension skills. International Student Assessment. Tatarstan teachers are invited to Singapore This exchange of educational practices took place between 2013 to visit local schools and institutions as The triennial study tests 540,000 part of the experiential learning process. and 2015, as part of a collaboration between Tatarstan’s Ministry 15-year-old students from more of Education and Educare International Consultancy (Educare), a than 70 countries and economies, Singaporean education consultancy firm. Such collaborations are becoming increasingly common as more global organisations choose and is considered one of the to learn best practices from Singapore’s education system, which has most influential international been named one of the world’s best by the Organisation for Economic scorecards for education systems. THE LEARNING NEVER STOPS Co-operation and Development (OECD) (see sidebar). Despite its successful education system, Singapore’s educators in Singapore’s public and private sectors, too, are eager to share the private and public sector continue to learn best practices — both their expertise with other countries, so that they can also enjoy the well-established and novel — from their global counterparts as well. economic growth that comes with a well-educated population. As Embarking on study trips and attending foreign conferences are Dr Goh Chor Boon, Associate Dean of National Institute of Education among the most popular ways of doing this. (NIE) International, pointed out, it is a way to pay it forward. “In the The crowd at Baybeats 2014. Early childhood educators from EtonHouse, which operates a decades after independence, Singapore’s education system benefitted chain of pre-schools in Singapore, have made study trips to Reggio from assistance provided by other countries. It is important that we Emilia in northern Italy. The city is the birthplace of the Reggio now do our part (to help others),” he told Experience Singapore. Emilia approach, which emphasises early childhood learning through language, play, art, modelling and music. Since 2014, more than 30 EIC Chairman, Mike Thiruman, conducting a workshop at Kazan Federal University in 2013. teachers from EtonHouse have participated in these trips to better understand this approach. These learning journeys are funded by BEYOND THE PUBLIC SECTOR the company. LEARNING, Private educational consultancy firms like Educare are also doing The trips inspire educators to be innovative in their classrooms. their part to promote the Singapore way of learning. Collaborative Ms Wong Wei Sum, a Kindergarten 2 teacher said, “We interacted programmes like the firm’s partnership with Tatarstan’s government, with Italian teachers and learnt how they make the most of resources are key to improving teaching outcomes, said Mr Mike Thiruman, to help children express themselves. I hope to create a similar Educare’s Chairman. “Sharing best practices is also essential environment in my classroom as well. (My students) will soon be because educators around the world face the same challenge of creating an animation on the life of caterpillars, complete with developing students’ critical thinking, creativity and problem solving self-composed songs.” She added that such activities help children THE WAY skills,” he elaborated. become more confident learners. SINGAPORE Educare was engaged by the Tatarstan government in 2011, when Professional organisations have also introduced study trips How Singapore’s collaborations representatives from its Ministry of Education visited Singapore on to support the development of its members. The Association for a study trip. “We were invited to pilot a four-week programme for Early Childhood Educators (Singapore) (AECES), a 1,050-strong with other nations are enriching TRAINING THE TRAINERS about 240 teachers,” said Mr Thiruman. Since then, Educare has run body of teaching professionals, has conducted three study trips to the global educational ecosystem. NIE International, the consultancy arm of NIE, Singapore’s national holistic professional development programmes for more than 33,000 Finland. “Early childhood education practices differ from country to teacher education institute, spearheads the Republic’s efforts to teachers in Tatarstan. “The programmes impart teaching and learning country and we hope to give members a deeper understanding of Text by ASHUTOSH RAVIKRISHNAN improve global education standards. One of its flagship programmes, strategies that transform mind-sets and classroom routines — teachers global educational philosophies,” said Ms Ivy Kok, AECES’s General the annual Leaders in Education Programme International, will return no longer just feed students with information, but have taken up more Manager. Members also visited Lithuania last year, where they for a 12th edition in July. It is expected to attract nearly 40 school facilitative roles,” said Ms Liliia Mukhametshina, Educare’s Adjunct attended the International Step by Step Association conference, an leaders and administrators from 20 countries. “Participants will Director and its Chief Representative in the Russian Federation and annual meeting of thought leaders from the early childhood sector. brainstorm ways to lead schools of the 21st century and learn how to the Commonwealth of Independent States. This encourages students The experience left an indelible impression on Ms Sharon Quah, a align school programmes with larger goals of national development,” to be more independent and engaged learners. Vice-Principal on her first study trip with AECES. She said, “I realised said Dr Goh. Other highlights of the event include learning journeys that we were all grappling with the same challenges. Knowing that to Singapore’s schools. “These give delegates an opportunity we are not alone (as educators) gives me the tenacity to carry on.” to understand how our school leaders and teachers are developing AECES Overseas Exchange. 21st century competencies in students,” he added. Educators from Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Bahrain are among those who have benefitted from NIE International’s programmes. The Institute employs a “training of trainers” approach, which allows programmes to maximise their reach. For example, in the late 2000s, 600 school leadership trainers from Vietnam visited NIE International for a series of seminars, presentations and school visits. These

participants then went on to train some 30,000 Vietnamese principals. NIE International Photos: Shutterctock, AECES, EtonHouse Photos: Educare,

An international delegation at a session of NIE International’s Leaders in Education International programme. In the decades after independence, Singapore’s An EtonHouse classroom. education system benefitted from assistance provided by other countries. It is important that we now do our part (to help others) Dr Goh Chor Boon, Associate Dean, EtonHouse educators during their study trip National Institute of Education (NIE) International to northern Italy in 2014, where they learnt 10 Apr–Jun 2017 Issue 62 more about the Reggio Emilia approach. Experience Singapore 11