Ms Lim Wan Yong, Chairperson, NIE Council
Professor Liu Woon Chia, Director, NIE
Colleagues,
Graduands,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. Good morning! I would like to start off by congratulating all our graduands for completing your teacher preparation programme at the National Institute of Education (NIE). Today, you begin an exciting journey as an educator.
2. In fact, yesterday morning I had my first school visit in my new capacity as the Minister for Education at Oasis Primary School. We visited classrooms, saw teachers in action and thereafter, had the opportunity to have a dialogue with some of the teachers. The teachers represented different generations – those who just graduated from NIE and others who had experience. We also had counsellors and special education teachers present.
3. It was a good dialogue, and the passion, dedication, spirit of sacrifice and the wanting to do better for the next generation was very clear in every piece of feedback and representation that existed. I came out of the dialogue feeling very refreshed and invigorated as many ideas have been shared by our educators on the ground. These are things that MOE want to support our teaching profession, counsellors, allied educators, and special education needs officers so that they do their best for our young Singaporeans and for the next generation because indeed, behind every one of us, wherever we are in life and future, there is always a teacher who inspire us.
4. In fact, I shared with the educators yesterday that I still keep the notes that both my primary and secondary teachers wrote to me, as well as those written by my classmates which were all kept in a safe box. Once in a while, whenever I'm feeling down, I would pull the notes out and read them, and feel refreshed and invigorated again.
Reimagining the Future of Education
5. This year is a year of many milestones. First and foremost, it is your graduation and your starting journey in life in this profession, but it is also:
- SG60
- MOE70
- NIE75
6. Our education system has played an important part in Singapore's nation-building story. At the heart of this journey are our teachers – who are united in their mission to shape young minds and carry the hope of our society into the future. Through the years, we have built a committed and high-quality teaching force, to ensure that every child has the opportunity to realise his or her potential, regardless of starting point in life. And we want to grow our teaching fraternity further – to attract more individuals who share in this commitment and passion to nurture our children. Over the next few years, we are planning to hire more than 1,000 new educators annually.
7. In addition to strengthening the teaching profession, we must also stay updated on the developments around us, and prepare our students for a fast-changing world. Rapid advances in automation and artificial intelligence have redefined the nature of work. Climate change is a global emergency, reshaping how societies live and adapt. As a teacher, you prepare the next generation to focus on the importance of sustainability and climate change. Social media and digital platforms have transformed how young people communicate, form relationships, and express their views and beliefs. As teachers, you shape and guide their early practices and habits.
8. Our education system must do more than keep pace with these rapid and fundamental changes. We must future-proof our next generation, and prepare our students to ride these waves of change and shape the future. As educators, you are central to this important mission.
9. Our graduands today bring diverse experiences. Some of you are starting your careers, others are switching from different fields. Some heading to mainstream classrooms, others to special education or counselling. You will have different approaches and will teach in different ways, but you all share a common calling to educate, uplift and inspire.
10. Today, allow me to pose three questions to you, to guide you on your journey as educators.
Kindling Joy of Learning
11. The first question - how do we ensure that our students not just know how to learn, but also want to learn in both classroom and in life?
12. The real world is not an academic examination hall. It values those who can think across disciplines, collaborate with others, and navigate uncertainty with courage. Rather than academic excellence, what truly matters is our students' capacity for sound judgement and reasoning, their socio-emotional competencies, and their core values that will be their guideline in life.
- This is why we have been gradually reducing the emphasis on academic grades and moving towards developing diverse skills and attributes more holistically.
- We removed mid-year examinations to provide more space for students to explore their strengths and interests, as well as develop 21st Century Competencies.
- We also introduced Full Subject-Based Banding, which allows greater flexibility for our students to offer subjects at different levels based on their needs, strengths, and interests.
13. But these system-level changes must be supported by learning experiences in school that not only help our students discover their unique strengths and interests but also ignite a deep and lasting joy for learning.
- One of today's graduands, Mr Vimal P., who is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Science and Education, embodies this spirit. Drawing from his experience as a national triathlete, I'm told that he found it deeply fulfilling in helping students discover their strengths and persevere through challenges in Physical Education lessons.
- During a game where students had to work together to keep a badminton shuttle airborne, initial failures led some to give up. Yet through Vimal's guidance, students discovered their individual strengths – some had quick reflexes, others were good at coordinating the team's movements. As they learned to combine these talents through teamwork, their confidence grew.
- What began as a difficult task transformed into an exciting opportunity to learn and grow together. His experience shows us that when teachers help students discover their unique abilities and strengths while supporting one another, they develop not just resilience, but a lasting enthusiasm for learning.
Cultivate Lifelong Learning
14. The second question to pose is - how can we prepare our young hearts and minds for a future defined by uncertainty and rapid change?
15. Today, AI can perform many tasks - from medical diagnosis to coding. This pace of innovation will only accelerate. Many of the jobs and even whole sectors we know today will change dramatically or disappear altogether. Our students will likely work in roles we cannot yet envision, using tools not yet invented to solve problems we have yet to imagine.
16. We must develop our students' resilience and instil positive dispositions towards lifelong learning, to enable them to navigate changes and uncertainties with confidence. In schools, we equip them with digital competencies and teach them to use AI effectively and responsibly. Beyond their schooling years, we will support them in acquiring new skills to stay relevant, through our SkillsFuture movement. Yet beyond hard skills, we must also nurture what is uniquely human. These include kindness, empathy, and our ability to make moral judgements that cannot be replicated by AI.
17. These values and dispositions are what our students need most, not just to thrive in the future economy, but to contribute to Singapore and the world. As teachers, you will be instrumental in cultivating these in our students.
18. Ms Chionh Yee Ching, who is graduating today with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Education, discovered her calling for teaching in an unexpected moment – a Social Studies lesson on Guantanamo Bay. Her teacher used powerful videos to bring the topic to life. The lesson unsettled her, challenged her, and ultimately inspired her. Today, Yee Ching hopes to spark this interest and inquisitiveness in her students using Educational Technology.
19. I invite our educators and graduands today to model the way like Yee Ching –
- To help students engage with complex issues and understand the world within and beyond Singapore.
- To harness the potential of technology to enhance teaching and learning,
- And, to remain open to new ways of connecting with our students.
- Because when students see their teachers continually learning too, they also understand that learning is not just for school, but for the rest of life.
Encourage Learning Together
20. The third question will be - how do we guide our students to look beyond themselves, to stand together as one Singapore?
21. Our society is becoming increasingly diverse. With widening generational gaps, heightened sensitivities, and varying aspirations and beliefs, our unity and social cohesion cannot be taken for granted. It is a never ending work in progress. They must be nurtured intentionally, through empathy, dialogue, and a commitment to our shared future.
22. As educators, you can help our students move from a concept of "me" to "we" — from individual success to shared success and responsibility. This includes creating opportunities for students of different backgrounds to learn together, teaching them to listen with empathy and regard each other with compassion, and to find unity in diversity, just as our forefathers did during our nation-building years.
23. We must provide the learning environment to foster this. One teacher who did so is Mr Keith Kok Shan Hwee, who is graduating today with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Education. During his practicum, I was told that Keith worked with a student with special educational needs who struggled with speech difficulties. Keith fostered a classroom environment where students encouraged and supported one another and respected each other's differences. Over time, the student gained confidence to verbalise the words, while his classmates helped him feel accepted. Not something that may come naturally, but the teacher created the environment and led with his own example.
24. His experience shows how teachers shape not just individual learners, but whole communities rooted in empathy and inclusion. When our students grow up side-by-side, learning to navigate difference with kindness, understanding and respect, we are laying the foundation for a more cohesive, compassionate Singapore.
Conclusion
25. These are three difficult questions, but yet are the kind we must not shy away from, to steward the future of our nation.
26. Rest assured that you won't be walking this path alone, but as part of a united yet diverse teaching fraternity. You will have mentors and experienced colleagues by your side. The Ministry will also support your continuous learning and career growth along the way, to enable your work – whether in mainstream education, special education, inclusive classroom, or counselling. NIE has played an instrumental role in nurturing generations of strong, committed and passionate teachers. To our NIE faculty and colleagues, past and present, a thank you for your dedication and passion.
27. Teaching demands your mind, energy, patience, and heart. While there will be challenging days, you can make a lasting difference in the lives of your students. They may not remember every lesson you teach, but they will certainly remember how you made them feel – seen, valued, and believed in.
28. Congratulations once again to the Class of 2025, you are answering a calling:
- To teach not just for today, but for tomorrow,
- To shape minds, guide hearts, and help build a kinder, wiser, and more united society.
- I wish you an exciting and meaningful career ahead!
29. Congratulations, once again. Thank you.