Teachers Network, Singapore Page 1 of 2

Home | Workshops / Events | Contact TN Login to

eResources

About Us Teachers’ Vision Professional Development Well-Being Roll of Honour Resources

Home >> Teachers’ Vision >> Messages

Messages

Singapore Teachers: Lead. Care. Inspire.

 
Teachers’ Mass Lecture 2009
The Vision Statement for the teaching service was launched during Teachers' Mass Lecture 2009 by Ms Ho
Peng, Director-General of Education(DGE) on 26 August 2009.

Teachers were consulted in the drafting of the statement which expresses the aspirations of the teaching
fraternity. Even after the launch of the Vision, conversations will continue to be held in schools to refine the
explanation of the three elements of the Vision.

The Vision aims to keep teachers focused on what they want to accomplish in the years ahead to move the
fraternity to a higher level of professional excellence.
 
 
Information Sheet on Vision for the Teaching Service - 26 Aug 2009
About Teacher Vision
Address by Ms Ho Peng, DGE, at the Teachers' Mass Lecture on 26 Aug 2009
Messages
Video Excerpts of DGE’s Speech - 26 Aug 2009

Related Resources (Intranet)

DGE's Teachers' Day Message 2009 -  31 Aug 2009

This has been an eventful year. A major challenge has been to contain the H1N1 pandemic. I would like to
express my appreciation to all teachers and school staff for going the extra mile to keep schools safe for our
children, so that we could continue with our core mission of teaching and learning. You carried out the
operations calmly and professionally, giving parents much reassurance and contributing to the high level of
public confidence. My heartfelt thanks to all.

Today, the education service is at an inflexion point. There has been a steady growth in teacher development.
TLLM is paying off. Teachers have become active participants in lesson design, with a number embarking on
action research. The Research Activist scheme has also seen teachers heading off to pursue a Masters course
at NIE. All said, we are witnessing the beginnings of teacher leadership—teachers leading in learning, teachers
leading teachers.

Hence, it is timely to ask, ‘How do we see ourselves now, and what is the Vision we want for our teaching
fraternity?’ In looking for answers, we have been engaged in a series of Teachers Conversations to distil what
we hold dear and true in our profession.

As we celebrate Teachers’ Day, I would like to affirm three attributes identified by our teachers as key to our
identity and calling as professionals.

The first was unanimously agreed on—that teachers care. A teacher’s care makes a child feel valued and safe,
both important conditions for learning and building self-esteem. Caring involves combining our professional
expertise, sound judgement, and compassion to reach out to each learner. It is about providing the best
opportunities for the holistic development of our children. In doing so, we need to work with parents and the
community to weave a web of support for them.

The second attribute is that teachers inspire. Many of us have been inspired by our own teachers when we
were in school. These teachers touched us with the zest they brought to lessons and CCA activities. The best
teachers inspire students to open doors to new worlds of knowledge, ways of thinking and doing. They also
inspire their students by the values they embody. Such teachers leave an indelible mark on their students in
their formative years.

Third, teachers lead. The word “educate” derives from the Latin verb “educere”. This means to “lead out”,
where teachers draw out the innate potential of their students. Thjs presumes that teachers have a warm
rapport with students, and use a facilitative style of teaching, to draw the best out of students. Teachers also
lead other teachers in learning. Increasingly, we see teachers taking greater ownership of their professional
learning and promoting the ethos and values that they hold dear as a community of practitioners. This can
only augur well for the teaching fraternity.

Singapore Teachers: Lead. Care. Inspire. Our Vision for the Teaching Service will serve to guide us in our
roles as teachers as we face the opportunities and challenges of educating our young for the 21st century.

I am confident that we will continue to do our best for our children and our best for Singapore.

Happy Teachers’ Day!

Ho Peng (Ms)
Director-General of Education

Quotations from Teachers' Conversations

Feedback from School-Based Conversations

 
School-Based Teacher Conversations
Materials and videos for school-based conversations are available at Related Resources (on MOE intranet). 
 

Share Your Views

Have a view to share about the Vision? How has the Vision Statement for the teaching service motivated
fellow teachers and their aspirations for the future? Join the discussion on "Singapore Teachers - Lead. Care.
Inspire." on MyForum. 

http://sam11.moe.gov.sg/tn/TeachersVision/messages.htm 22/06/2010
Teachers Network, Singapore Page 2 of 2

Further Readings:
Elaboration of the Teachers' Pledge on The Purpose of Teaching website

From the MOE Website: Teachers in Society

This site is best viewd with IE 7

 
Copyright 2009 Ministry of Education. All rights reserved. Sitemap | Privacy Statement | Terms of Use

http://sam11.moe.gov.sg/tn/TeachersVision/messages.htm 22/06/2010