Professor Liu Woon Chia, Director, National Institute of Education
Ms Geraldine Chin, Chairman and Managing Director of ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
Associate Professor Shanti Divaharan, Chairperson of the Caring Teacher Awards 2024 Organising Committee
Colleagues, students, ladies and gentlemen
1. Teachers are the lifeblood of our education system. Beyond imparting knowledge and skills, they are also mentors, coaches, and counsellors in our students' lives. Their encouragement and support play a crucial role in helping students discover their strengths, navigate challenges, and give them confidence to pursue their dreams. I agree with Ms Geraldine Chin that often, it is not so much what the teachers teach, but how they made us feel that has a lasting impact.
2. The ten teachers whom we are honouring today have left a positive impact on their students and inspired fellow colleagues. They have gone the extra mile to ensure that every student is seen, heard, and supported.
3. Let me share a few examples. Mdm Chitra Devi Gunasegar from Sengkang Green Primary School reads widely on teaching approaches to create inclusive learning environments. She helped a student with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder learn to manage her impulsivity by creating opportunities for her to help with small tasks in class, giving her timed toilet breaks to curb her restlessness, and making simple rules on her conduct during class together. Another student with dyslexia benefited from differentiated worksheets created by Mdm Chitra which provide scaffolding tailored to suit his learning needs.
4. Another award winner, Mdm Ng Peck Wee from Raffles Girls' School is another example. Mdm Ng had a successful 20-year career in corporate banking, but found herself wanting to contribute to society in a more meaningful way. She joined the teaching service at age 48, and embraced the challenges of adapting to a new profession. Over the last decade, she has guided two batches of students from Year 1 to Year 4 and witnessed their growth into confident, young women. One of Mdm Ng's students initially did not attend school, as she had to repeat a year and was afraid of how her peers would perceive her. Mdm Ng reached out to the student personally to understand her concerns and persuaded her to return to school. She offered the student care and assurance, and made special arrangements to help her to integrate into her new form class. Seeing the student forge close friendships with her classmates and graduating from school was what keeps Mdm Ng going.
5. Another teacher, Ms Seah Sim Yee from Yishun Innova Junior College, taps on technology to enliven her Chemistry lessons. She uses fun and interactive simulations to help her students visualise and comprehend abstract concepts such as molecular structures. For Ms Seah, teaching is about connection and the heart. When her student, who had been hospitalised since 2020, expressed her determination to sit for the A-Level examinations last year, Ms Seah arranged for the student to attend lessons online via Zoom, and ensured that the student was included in classroom activities and learning. Her colleagues were also inspired by her dedication and commitment to excellence.
6. I would like to congratulate our Caring Teacher award winners, as well as close to 13,000 nominees from about 260 schools. It is heartening to hear that there was a fourteen percent increase in the number of nominees, compared to about 11,000 nominees in 2022. This demonstrates our teachers' commitment and care of their students, and that their dedication has not gone unnoticed. Each one of our award winners and nominees has shown what it takes to make a difference and empower the next generation. I hope that you will continue your good work and inspire new generations of teachers.
7. On this note, I would also like to thank NIE and ExxonMobil Singapore for this excellent effort to recognise our teachers. I hope that students and teachers alike will continue to help recognise more teachers who are deserving of this award.
8. Thank you.