IT HAS been a winding road to receiving a university degree for Millennia Institute teacher Lee Xuan Man.

The 48-year-old stopped studying after completing her primary education in Johor Baru. Her family could not afford to pay her school fees after her father died of cancer when she was 12.

Related link: » She attended secondary school at age 25

She worked for 13 years in factories in Singapore and Malaysia before going back to school at the age of 25.

With the financial support of her sister-in-law and other donors, she completed her secondary and high school education in Malaysia when she was 29 years old.

She then went on to study at a university in Taiwan on a scholarship and received her Bachelor in Chinese Language degree five years later.

Learning for her did not stop after university.

She now attends counselling classes and English classes and frequently reads up on innovative teaching methods.

Her story touched many of her colleagues and students and led them to nominate her for the Singapore Press Holdings' Inspiring Chinese Language Teachers Award this year.

Ms Lee and 12 other teachers were given the award in May.

Yesterday, as part of Teachers' Day celebrations, her school organised a preview of a television programme featuring her.

Ms Lee said: 'I hope that through my story, my students will learn not to give up when they meet obstacles. I also want them to learn that there are many people who are less fortunate than them and they should help them if they can.'

AMELIA TAN

This article was first published in The Straits Times.