I REFER to the Jan 7 letter by Mr Ho Kong Loon, 'Get feedback from teachers', and would like to recount my experience as a teacher.

A group of inspectors from the Ministry of Education was in our school for an entire month. Some were specialists in specific academic subjects and their purpose was to observe teachers giving lessons, check their books and talk to them.

At our department meeting earlier, the head asked what feedback we would give to the inspectors if they spoke to us. I was the only one who spoke up.

We encourage our young people to speak their mind. Let us start with teachers themselves and, in Mr Ho's words, let 'VIP visitors be accorded unimpeded access to all channels of feedback' so 'ministerial visits to schools, and those carried out by other top education officials, will be far more productive'.

Let all VIPs see the school for what it is and not what the school elite make it out to be for VIPs to see.

Tan Li Quinne (Mdm)

This article was first published in The Straits Times on January 15, 2009.