"We should also ensure adequate rewards for our teachers who joined the Education Service as mid-career officers.  Some of them taken large pay cuts to join us.  Like many of our teachers, they are in the Service for the passion, not for the money. But we should review the salaries that they earn, once they are performing well as teachers, so that their contributions are recognized in line with other good teachers.

Our mid-career officers can bring in valuable insights with their working experience outside the Education Service.  Some  have gone on to assume leadership positions.  Like  Ng Teng Joo, Principal of Henry Park Primary School who used to be an engineer.  Or Charles Surin, who was Vice-Principal of Northland Secondary School and is now attending the Leaders in Education Programme. Charles worked in Ogilvy & Mather, SMRT and TCS.  Or Nur Johari Salleh, who was one of this year’s PAT winners. He was an engineer before he came into teaching. He’s now at Deyi Secondary as HOD for Student Welfare and Development."

- THARMAN SHANMUGARATNAM
MINISTER FOR EDUCATION & SECOND MINISTER FOR FINANCE

HO HO HO!

Read more at
http://www.moe.gov.sg/press/2006/pr20060904.htm
http://www.moe.gov.sg/speeches/2006/sp20060904.htm