Six Young Educators Recognised for Passion and Dedication in Nurturing Students

In recognition of their unwavering dedication and impactful contributions to nurturing students, six teachers received the Outstanding Youth in Education Award (OYEA) from Minister for Education, Mr Desmond Lee, at the National Institute of Education (NIE) Teachers' Investiture Ceremony on Wednesday, 1 July 2026. The recipients are (in alphabetical order):

• Mdm Faridah Binte Mohamed Ali, 33, Fuhua Primary School
• Ms Lena Teo Ying Hui, 35, Zhonghua Secondary School
• Mr Ng Jun Kian, Eugene, 35, Springfield Secondary School
• Mr Rishvinder Singh, 33, Changkat Changi Secondary School
• Mr Yeo Rong Yao Jeremy, 35, Yishun Innova Junior College
• Miss Yip Joo Yee, 32, New Town Primary School

2. Introduced in 1999, OYEA is a national award that recognises young teachers aged 35 and below for their passion for teaching, enthusiasm, creativity, and active involvement in their students' holistic development. Beyond honouring the achievements of young educators, OYEA also aims to inspire youths to pursue teaching as a purposeful and fulfilling profession.

3. The six recipients have demonstrated a strong belief that education is not just about academic achievement, but about developing students holistically and instilling in them a joy for lifelong learning. The recipients are also committed to nurturing future-ready students who are resilient, empathetic, adaptable and equipped with strong problem-solving, critical, and creative thinking skills.

4. These educators have worked closely with their stakeholders to achieve these educational outcomes, employing innovative pedagogical approaches and harnessing technology to create meaningful learning experiences for their students. Their efforts include designing real-world learning activities and programmes, leveraging digital and interactive tools to assess students' progress, developing life skills, and creating opportunities for students to contribute positively to others.

5. The recipients were selected from 11 finalists (please see Annex) by a selection panel comprising representatives from the Ministry of Education, NIE, the National Youth Council, and members of COMPASS (COMmunity and PArents in Support of Schools). This year's award drew a total of 2,965 nominations from schools and members of the public, for over 1,426 teachers from 230 schools.

6. The six recipients will be fully sponsored to attend an overseas professional learning programme and will share their learning with the education fraternity. They will also each receive a trophy and a certificate. The other finalists will receive a grant of $1,000 to attend either overseas or local conferences, seminars, or courses.