Strengthening Teacher Education for Global Competitiveness: The Singaporean Way

Abstract

Education is vital for the growth of a country’s economy. To provide good education, competent teachers are needed. To have such teachers, a good teacher education programme is required. Such a programme is important in helping a country increase the standard of teachers, and in placing the country in a good position for global competitiveness. An effective programme can help teachers develop the necessary knowledge, 21st century skills and values for optimal teaching. These teachers can in turn lay the foundation for their students’ life-long learning. In this paper, the author expounds on how Singapore’s Teacher Education Programme at the National Institute of Education (NIE) underwent review to implement a programme that meets the demands of the 21st century education landscape and to remain relevant in the global arena. The author explains what NIE does in particular to enhance her student teachers’ learning journey at the Institute and to strengthen their theory-practice nexus. The author also shares how interested educators can reflect on the Singaporean Model, adapt and implement some of the relevant strategies in their own teacher education programmes in their universities or institutions, so as to strengthen the education literacy in their respective countries.

Keywords: Teacher Education, Global Competitiveness,Theory-Practice Link, Practicum