Happy Teachers' Day

President’s Award for Teachers 2009

Four exemplary teachers received the 2009 President’s Award for Teachers from President S.R. Nathan at the Istana during the Teachers’ Day reception on Tuesday, 1 September 2009. They are:

* Mr Terry Tan Chee Liang , Anglo-Chinese School (Primary);
* Miss Cardoza Sharon Ann, Farrer Park Primary School;
* Mdm Wong Lai Fong, Anderson Secondary School, and;
* Miss Lucy Oliver Fernandez, Catholic High School (Secondary)

The annual President’s Award for Teachers recognises the commitment of teachers towards the total development of students and to nation-building. This year’s recipients are inspiring teachers who have demonstrated passion, innovation and dedication in teaching. From translating abstract concepts through computer games and imbuing values education in the teaching of Mathematics, to organising breakfast meetings and ferrying a pupil to school daily, these teachers played multiple roles of educator, innovator, nurturer and mentor to prepare their students for the future.

About 9,000 nominations for the Award were received from principals, teachers, students, parents and former students, a record high since the Award was introduced in 1998. The nominees included 2,421 teachers from 257 schools. A Selection Panel, chaired by Mrs Josephine Teo, Chairman for the Government Parliamentary Committee for Education, and comprising prominent members of the community and senior officers from the Ministry of Education, selected the four recipients. The members of the selection panel are listed in Annex B.

Applauding the award recipients for their outstanding contribution to teaching, Mrs Josephine Teo said, “Teachers have the potential to transform our school experience. We are privileged in Singapore to have so many of such transformational teachers. They are not just passionate about imparting knowledge, but also care deeply about nurturing our children as whole persons. At the same time that we recognise the four PAT recipients, I would like to affirm the thousands of teachers out there who are making a huge difference to our education system.”