Education Minister applauds efforts of teachers

SINGAPORE - Education Minister Heng Swee Keat has paid a tribute to teachers, highlighting their efforts in a note posted on his Facebook page on Sunday, as the March holidays draw to a close.

In his post, he said he has visited many good schools and met many caring educators "who work hard to bring out the best in every child". Their efforts, he added, have inspired and touched him.

He urged teachers to keep learning new skills and be models of lifelong learning, besides focusing on the needs of their students.

Inspired by the teachers, Mr Heng said: "I look forward to seeing many more engaged students learning happily and reaching their best - I also look forward to learning continually from you our teachers, on how to bring out the best in every child. Thank you and be *your* best!"

Read Minister Heng's full Facebook post below:

A Note to Teachers

Dear teachers,

When Parliament debated all the Ministries' budgets this year, I spoke about how MOE seeks to bring out the best in every child, in every domain of learning, in every school, at every stage of the learning journey, whatever the starting point of the child, to create a better future together.

The whole time, I kept thinking about our educator community. I thought, I'm sure the teachers who hear this will say, "Bring out the best in the child? That's what we've been doing all along!"

And indeed, I have visited many good schools and met many caring educators who work hard to bring out the best in every child. I shared some stories with Parliament, but there just wasn't time to share all the ones that have inspired and touched me.

So today, I just want to send out a special note to teachers (and the many excellent allied educators, counsellors, psychologists and administrative support staff in our school system), to say that I am very proud of the important work you do, and thankful for the priceless difference you make.

When we seek to bring out the best in every child, it takes more than good teaching curricula, strategies or experience - it takes heart. I know you put your heart into the children, and that is why they can discover their true interests and talents, and reach their best.

But it is, we all know very well, an increasingly volatile and challenging world. So our children will need, more than ever, those tools to guide them when the path ahead is not laid out.

It is not enough to just give students a map to the world, teach them to follow it, and think that that will help them succeed in life. Going forward, they will need a compass of values and character that will keep them focused on their true North even when the terrain throws up surprises.

And they will need navigation skills, those higher order thinking skills that will help them carve out new routes in uncharted territories.

When we want to bring out the best in our children, our teachers must also be able to reach your personal and professional best too. Just as we want our students to learn new skills, teachers also need to keep improving your own navigation skills, to keep learning new skills, and to be models of lifelong learning.

I applaud the strong ethos of leading, caring for and inspiring our children amongst our educators. I have met many dedicated and deeply professional educators on my school visits, and I know I will meet many more.

And I am committed to enabling you to continue to grow. In the coming years, the Academy of Singapore Teachers and our specialised teachers' academies will do even more to support your continuing professional development.

As you go to school tomorrow, I ask you to remember to be proud - of yourself, your school, your students; to partner our parents who also want the best for their children; and to keep looking for ways, with your heart as your compass, to bring out the best in every child.

I look forward to seeing many more engaged students learning happily and reaching their best - I also look forward to learning continually from you our teachers, on how to bring out the best in every child. Thank you and be *your* best!"