Director-General of Education Retires After 38 Years of Service

1. Mr Wong Siew Hoong (王斯芸), 62, Director-General of Education, will be retiring from the Education Service on 31 Mar 2022 after an illustrious career spanning 38 years. Mr Wong joined the Education Service as a teacher in 1984 and contributed in various capacities in schools and MOE HQ. Prior to his appointment as Director-General of Education in April 2015, he was Principal of Tanjong Katong Secondary, Principal of Raffles Institution, Director of Schools, and Deputy Director-General of Education (Curriculum).

2. Mr Wong has made significant contributions to the education system, overseeing several key shifts. This included changes to the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) scoring system to grade students in wider bands rather than T-scores, and the introduction of Full Subject-Based Banding at the Secondary level to replace secondary one streaming by 2024, which better caters to the strengths of students across different subjects.

3. A strong proponent of values and character building in students, Mr Wong also oversaw the implementation of a refreshed curriculum last year that integrated character and citizenship education with lessons and Co-Curricular Activities, and enhanced mental health and cyber wellness education across primary and secondary schools.

4. Mr Wong also led the Education Service to systematically enable digital self-directed learning though the roll-out of the Student Learning Space online platform and putting a Personal Learning Device in the hands of every secondary school student. He also played a significant role in strengthening Digital Literacy in schools through the National Digital Literacy Programme.

5. As teachers are the backbone of a quality education, Mr Wong worked with the Teaching fraternity to codify effective pedagogical practices into the Singapore Teaching Practice and through it, promoted pedagogical improvements and innovations.

6. More recently, Mr Wong guided the Education Service's response to the disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic to teaching and learning in schools. Under his guidance, schools successfully took precautions to safeguard the well-being of students and staff, and also put in place Home-Based Learning so that students' learning could continue undisrupted.

7. In recognition of Mr Wong's invaluable contributions, Permanent Secretary for Education, Mr Lai Chung Han (黎忠汉) said, "I would like to thank Siew Hoong for his sterling leadership as Director-General of Education over the past 7 years. He has been an exemplary educator for almost four decades, and I would like to express MOE's deep appreciation to him for his many significant contributions to the Education Service and Singapore."

8. Mr Wong will continue to contribute to MOE after his retirement in the capacity as an advisor to MOE with effect from 1 May 2022. Reflecting on dedicating 38 years of his career to education, Mr Wong said, "It has been my immense privilege to serve in the Teaching Service, to work with so many dedicated fellow teachers and together with them help our students develop and grow to their fullest potential."

Appointment of Director-General of Education

9. Mdm Liew Wei Li (刘慧丽), 49, will succeed Mr Wong as Director-General of Education on 1 April 2022. She will relinquish her current appointments as Deputy Director-General of Education (Schools) and Director of Schools, positions she has held since 2017. Mdm Liew joined the Education Service as a teacher in 1994 and has held a range of leadership appointments in schools, MOE HQ, and public sector agencies. Commenting on her appointment as Director-General of Education, Mdm Liew said, "I look forward to working with our highly professional, nurturing, and dedicated teaching fraternity to provide the ballast, direction and momentum for future generations to contribute their dynamism to Singapore in a global world."