CSE PIONEER CUM EDUCATOR Koh Tong Seah likened educating a student to constructing a good building. “A good building needs a sturdy foundation, good design and strong execution,” he pointed out. “Cultivating a young man requires well-planned education programmes and teachers to execute it effectively.”

Tong Seah was a site engineer with his industrial attachment company. However, tough working conditions made him rethink his career choice. When the National Institute of Education (NIE) started enrolling engineering graduates to be trained as teachers, Tong Seah went in together with 13 other pioneers.

After the one-year NIE course, Tong Seah was posted to Tanjong Katong Secondary School in 1989. He observed that engineers-turned teachers seemed to be disadvantaged vis-à-vis those who studied mathematics, science and arts in university. The latter have knowledge related to their teaching subjects. However, the engineering training is far from a liability. “Our engineering background enables us to analyse and solve problems,” said Tong Seah. “We can easily adapt to the teaching environment.” His track record speaks for itself. He taught mathematics and design and technology. Later, he headed the craft and technology department. In 2005, Tong Seah was promoted to vice-principal at the same school.

After a stint with Wah Chang International as a civil engineer, Jason Tan Seng Chong went into teaching together with Tong Seah. His teaching career path was different. After teaching design and technology for a few years, Jason took up a role at the Ministry of Education headquarters to develop the curriculum for the subject. In 2002, Jason joined the National Institute of Education to train and educate design and technology teachers to teach this subject to secondary school pupils. His student teachers hold engineering degrees. They come to NIE for their post-graduate course in education.

Vincent Yong Swee Lek is also a design and technology teacher. He spent 14 years in the disk drive industry before becoming a teacher. “It was a refreshing change,” shared Vincent. He was posted to Montfort Secondary School to teach design and technology. While an engineering job is tough, teaching is also not easy. “Students can be demanding and challenging,” he said. Another disk drive veteran, Chng Siew Chye, joined Woodlands Ring Primary School as the Vice-Principal for Administration after 24 years in the industry.