Teachers make some of the biggest impacts on our lives. They guide our early steps, keep us on the right path and encourage learning in each and every student.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) offers teaching scholarships and awards to foster the next generation of teachers alongside each generation of students. Aside from tuition fees, the MOE Teaching Scholarship and MOE Teaching Award also offer professional development opportunities such as study trips and networking seminars for teachers to better themselves and advance in their careers.

Beyond the confines of a classroom, MOE offers opportunities to their scholars to develop new pedagogies and policies to empower a future generation of learners.

Leong Jun Yi Ian is a Senior Manager with the Higher Education Policy Division at MOE. His work involves the formulation and implementation of strategic human resource and quality assurance policies and initiatives to build up the capabilities at the Institutes of Higher Learning in support of MOE’s objectives to develop a higher quality education sector.

Nurafiqah Binte Ismadi is a Form Teacher at Pasir Ris Primary School, as well as the English language coordinator and subject level representative. She assists the Head of Department for English language to oversee curriculum and assessment matters for the primary three cohort.

The two shared with us the roles and possibilities available to those who are interested in this fulfilling and meaningful career to guide young lives.

Firstly, why did you each choose to join the education sector?

Ian: While volunteering at a social service centre in school, I realised that not everyone in society has the same starting point as a result of family background, upbringing or other factors. As someone who is fortunate to have loving parents who have invested much time and energy in bringing me up, I thought that joining the education sector would be a meaningful way to pay it forward, whether it’s through journeying with students directly or formulating the support structures to enable students’ progress across their lifetime.

Nurafiqah: After secondary school, I pursued a Diploma in Early Childhood Education. I realised during my tertiary education then that I enjoy working with young children. A family member advised me to further my studies in a different but related field, so I decided to pursue this interest I had in teaching to teach slightly older children.

Nurafiqah Binte Ismadi

Clearly, you both were meant to be in the education field. Nurafiqah, could you tell us more about the MOE Teaching Award and what it means?

Nurafiqah: MOE offers teaching scholarships and awards to students who have a strong passion for teaching. All recipients of the teaching scholarships and awards are sponsored for their undergraduate tuition fees, approved programmes and receive a maintenance allowance.

Since I have decided to pursue the Bachelor of Arts in Education programme, taking up the MOE Teaching Award was the best option for me then because of the advantages it offers. Besides having my tuition fees completely paid for, I was also given the opportunity to do a semester abroad in London and a significant amount of my expenses was also sponsored. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is one that I believe to be the best part of my university life.

The overseas study opportunity must have been incredibly enriching! Tell us more.

Nurafiqah: Indeed, it is part of how MOE supports our studies by enabling us to take our learning beyond the classroom. Besides the chance to take our learning overseas in a different educational context, we also got the chance to apply what we have learnt in our teaching practicums in local (and even overseas) schools. Getting the opportunity to apply what we learnt at the end of every academic year was beneficial because we were able to put it into practice in authentic contexts.

Leong Jun Yi Ian

Ian, you also studied abroad in the UK. What was your study experience like?

Ian: One huge takeaway was understanding Harry Potter’s lexicon better, which made re-reading the books very enjoyable! Another was the broadened perspective of seeing different narratives of success. For example, in the UK, many outstanding undergraduates choose to take a gap year rather than to take additional subjects as most Singaporean students might do.

What made you choose to pursue your studies at the University of York?

Ian: It was one of the few universities that offered the course I was interested in — physics with philosophy — and I liked that it’s in a beautiful small town rather than a metropolis. There were fewer paid attractions in the city compared to London, so it was natural to slow down the pace of life, take walks around the city walls and self-reflect on my motivations, behaviours, experiences and to take a step back and gain perspective on what truly matters.

The people I’ve met and stories I’ve heard and experienced broadened my perspective, which has helped me better empathise with others and understand how various people think. This is important as MOE policies tend to impact a large number of people, so having empathy ensures that policies are grounded in reality.

Could you elaborate on your role and how it impacts education.

Ian: I work with my colleagues to formulate and review policies relating to the Higher Education sector (specifically the Autonomous Universities) to ensure a quality Higher Education sector. We also engage stakeholders such as university leaders and encourage stakeholders to innovate and align the sector outcomes with broader national priorities.

Could you each tell us about something fulfilling you discovered in your work?

Ian: Having ownership of a policy and seeing my recommendations being eventually endorsed by bosses and senior management is incredibly fulfilling because I know these policies will improve education for Singaporeans.

Nurafiqah: Working with young children has led to many fulfilling moments in this field of work. For example, I got the chance to work with primary six students who were doing ‘Foundation English Language’. The class was very small, comprising only four students, and our school’s Allied Educator was also present during lessons to provide support. This meant that we were able to work with all of the four students very closely to increase their competency in the subject and guide them through a very significant chapter in their lives. Seeing how proud they were of themselves when they grasped a concept was one of the most fulfilling moments.

Thank you for an insightful interview. Could you each provide some last words of advice for aspiring educators?

Ian: The ability to change lives as a teacher is what makes this profession meaningful, intrinsically fulfilling and special. If your heart lies with teaching, joining the service early will give you a head start in honing your pedagogical and curriculum leadership skills.

Nurafiqah: Working in education affords individuals the opportunity to make a difference to the future of Singapore by shaping the lives of its younger citizens. The work has its challenges, but it truly is a meaningful path for those who have a passion in working with children.