28 May 1998

SPEECH BY RADM TEO CHEE HEAN, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND SECOND MINISTER FOR DEFENCE AT THE TEACHERS' NETWORK OFFICIAL LAUNCH ON THURSDAY 30 APRIL 1998 @ 2.30 PM AT THE TEACHERS' NETWORK-GRANGE ROAD CENTRE

We often hear the call to accept change, to adapt to change. In education we are often reminded that we must prepare our students for change, to help our students cope with a future which will be characterised by rapid changes.

2 These are statements which we cannot ignore. However education needs to go beyond that. It is not enough to provide an education which merely follows, reacts or adapts to change. Education must play a leading role in shaping and influencing the developments in our society. Education is a long process - it takes at least ten years, and typically thirteen to fifteen years, for a primary 1 child to go through school and further education before first entering the workforce. This time lag poses a big challenge. What we teach in our schools now has to anticipate what the world is going to be like in a decade when our pupils enter the adult world. What we teach now will "Mould the Future of Our Nation".

3 Education has to equip our students with knowledge in specific subjects, but we must do more. The first and perhaps the most important is to equip our students with the fundamental values about our society, what we stand for, and the capacity to think for themselves. We cannot provide them with solutions to problems that we cannot yet imagine. But our students should understand why we have become a nation, and how we have survived and built a reasonably good life for ourselves. They should understand our constraints, but know how we have worked to overcome them, so that they will have the confidence that we can continue to do so. Then when they are confronted with critical choices in the future, they can make the right decisions, not only for themselves as individuals, but for the good of the country.

4 Second, our education system must help our students to become creative thinkers, life-long learners and leaders of change. Such behaviour and attitudes cannot be taught like a content subject. It must go beyond head knowledge and skills if we are to achieve the goal of Thinking Schools, Learning Nation. The school culture needs to change and our teachers must set the example and lead the way. Our teachers must be the catalysts of change.

5 The Teachers' Network is one initiative which will help bring about this change. It will complement the comprehensive in-service training programme we have put in place for teachers.

6 The Teachers' Network provides a framework for teachers to continually share and learn about new developments and best practices. It recognises that teachers are professionals - professionals who are motivated to improve their knowledge and skills to further develop themselves.

7 Many of our teachers have developed effective teaching strategies to meet the unique needs of different groups of pupils in our schools. Many of the practices of our teachers are derived from years of experience and based on experiential knowledge which is not codified. Teachers therefore often regard this as "common sense" rather than valuable knowledge and skills. Through the Teachers' Network, our teachers will be able to improve upon these practices by sharing and learning from other teachers.

8 Teachers must have the confidence and openness to believe that they have much to share and much to learn. The answers to many of our educational challenges lie within the teaching fraternity. Teachers must take pride in themselves and play an active role in leading these changes. By sharing and learning our teachers will build up the corporate knowledge of our teaching force while building up their own individual knowledge. They will build up support structures to help each other overcome difficulties and solve problems.

9 We must also be prepared to look for ideas beyond our own immediate experience in Singapore. We must constantly seek alternative views and perspectives which challenge us to ex-examine our own mindsets and assumptions. But we must also have the wisdom and professionalism to examine these ideas critically to extract what is suitable and best for us. The Teachers' Network should therefore seek opportunities to work collaboratively with other educational institutions and teachers from around the world.

10 Principals should encourage teachers to participate in the professional dialogue and sharing activities of the Teachers' Network. In this way their teachers will be exposed to alternative methods and views from teachers in other schools, in other institutions and in other countries. These alternatives provide a rich background for individual teachers to reflect on their own practices, challenge their assumptions, and create new insights and practices. It also provides the school with a constant source of ideas and energy.

11 The chance to come together as members of a larger professional fraternity will also provide the opportunity for our teachers to look beyond the immediate needs of their pupils or the immediate issues of classroom teaching. It allows teachers to reflect on the larger educational issues which give meaning to their work. They will see how their individual efforts fit into the larger scheme of things.

12 The Teachers' Network seeks to achieve these goals through various activities. The primary activity is the formation of Learning Circles among teachers who want to better understand educational issues and concerns of common interest, or teachers who are keen to further develop an idea or teaching strategy. The outcomes of the Learning Circles will be shared with other teachers either as publications, on the Teachers' Network Homepage, through the series of focused exhibitions, or through workshops and seminars. The exhibitions, workshops and seminars will also showcase good work done in our schools and new commercial products in the market. These exhibits will spark new ideas and possibilities which teachers can then try in their teaching. I expect that a good number of these workshops and seminars will be led by teachers with special knowledge, skills or practices which will benefit other teachers.

13 Since the Teachers' Network is a mode of professional development rather than a physical entity, its activities will not be restricted to its Grange Road Centre. For example, it may at times be more convenient for a Learning Circle to meet in a school or even a coffeeshop near where most of its members live. At other times the workshop could be a field trip led by a teacher for other teachers. The Teachers' Network will support any teacher-initiated activity which will contribute towards its vision of building a fraternity of reflective teachers.

14 The Ministry also recognises that change can be disorientating for some. A teacher can only welcome change and be part of the change if he is confident of his own abilities. This is the second role the Teachers' Network will play. The iCARE (Individual Consultation and Advisory Resource for Educators) service that it provides will help teachers develop that self-mastery, form groups of teachers who will support each other during this period of change, and provide counselling to those who may need it.

15 In short, the Teachers' Network acknowledges the expertise present in our teaching fraternity and seeks to refine it further through reflection, professional dialogue and sharing. The Teachers' Network will strengthen the individual and corporate knowledge of our teaching force. It will help our teachers develop greater self- confidence in their own work and worth.

16 Teachers are the heart and soul of our education system. Dedicated and motivated teachers are the key to a good education for our children. And our most dedicated and outstanding teachers should be recognised for their efforts. Today, I am glad to announce that The President of the Republic of Singapore has graciously consented to the creation of the President's Award for Teachers.

17 The Award recognises outstanding teachers who have shown utmost concern for the character and moral development of the students; have motivated, challenged, inspired and helped them find the potential within themselves; and encouraged enterprise, innovation curiosity and creativity in students. The President has also graciously consented to present this award on Teachers' Day. Each Award will include an expense-paid attendance at an international conference and visits to top schools overseas. The recipients will also be considered for appointment as Fellows of the Teachers' Network.

18 Nominations for this Award can be made on forms which will be available from next week in schools, public libraries and community centres. Parents, students, ex-students and colleagues are encouraged to nominate outstanding serving teachers who are deserving of public recognition.

19 The Ministry of Education has introduced several major initiatives to prepare our young people for a new age of change. These initiatives will only succeed if we regard education as change with teachers leading the way as catalysts of change. As catalysts of change, teachers need to continually develop themselves. Every teacher needs to reflect on what he or she is doing, seek new insights and practices, and in the process grow as a person and as a professional. The Teachers' Network provides a platform for this growth.