IT is only opening in 2010.

But the management of the new School of Science and Technology (SST) has already started looking for teachers.

The SST is the fourth specialised independent school here after the Singapore Sports School, NUS High School Of Mathematics and Science and the School of the Arts.

Like other secondary schools, the SST will offer a four-year programme leading to the O levels but with a focus on practical-oriented subjects, like design, environmental science and technology, biotechnology and media studies.

An e-mail was sent out on 11 Mar to all teachers in Singapore, inviting interested parties to send in their CVs and attend a briefing session.

About 50 teachers attended the first session held on Saturday morning at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

The second briefing, which is expected to see a smaller turnout of about 15 teachers, will be held tonight.

At the briefing, which will be chaired by Mr Chua Chor Huat, the principal-designate of the new school, teachers will learn about the key features of the new school and what the school is looking for in its educators.

Mr Chua told The New Paper that the school started the recruitment process early as it needs staff, especially heads of department, to help develop the curriculum from scratch.

He added that a very small group of about 10 teachers will be hired by June to start meetings and brain-storming sessions.

Members from the Ministry of Education's curriculum planning division and lecturers from Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Nanyang Technological University will be involved as well.

So what is the school looking for in its teachers?

Besides basic requirements such as having a bachelor's degree from a recognised university and being proficient in technical applications, prospective teachers must have a solid grounding in the content to be able to creatively impart that knowledge to students, said Mr Chua.

POLY-STYLE LESSONS

He added: 'Since it's a school that will deal with a lot of applied learning, we are looking for teachers who will be comfortable engaging students in project-based learning, similar to how lessons are conducted in polytechnics.'

For now, only mainstream teachers are invited to send in their CVs.

But at a later stage, Mr Chua said his school will invite applicants from polytechnics and even the private sector.

He added that mid-career teachers who have had industry experience will also be welcome as their diverse experience will add to the experience of the students.

Miss Loh Kwai Yin, who works in MOE's educational technology division and attended Saturday's briefing, said that she was attracted by the school's openness to innovative teaching.

She said: 'They are inviting those who are interested to explore new ways of using technology to engage pupils. That is a definite pull factor for me.'

Added Miss Low, 38, who taught mathematics and computer applications for 10 years at a secondary school before moving on to MOE: 'It's an opportunity to marry your technical knowledge and figure out new and inventive ways to teach students. That's definitely exciting.'

This article was first published in The New Paper on Mar 17, 2008.