By Candice Cai

For Ms Wong Hsien Hui, 25, part of being a good teacher is being able to make the subject that they are teaching "relevant to the lives of their students".

This includes relating ancient history to the modern example of globalisation, in her case.

Ms Wong is one of 313 newly qualified teachers, who received their NIE (National Institute of Education) diplomas at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) today.

She was also the recipient of the History Association of Singapore Book Prize for her outstanding performance in her chosen course.

The Teachers' Investiture ceremony, held at the Nanyang auditorium, was attended by Guest-of-Honour, Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence.

A total of nine prizes and awards were given out to the top performers in the cohort.

Ms Wong, who spent a year completing her post-graduate diploma in Education, said of her win: "I was very pleasantly surprised."

She added that she did not expect it as she found herself amongst classmates who were equally outstanding and commendable.

Currently a teacher at Singapore Chinese Girls' School (SCGS), her alma mater, she attributed her win to the dedication of the lecturers at NIE, as well as the support of teachers and students at SCGS, where she completed her attachment as part of her course requirement.

Passion, according to Ms Wong, is another criteria that teachers should possess in order to be a good teacher.

She said: "In order to teach something well, you need to be passionate, not only towards students, but also towards the subject, as you will have to constantly update your knowledge."