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ITE Salutes Minister
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ITE Salutes Minister
Teo Chee Hean
Champion of technical education and supporter of ITE, he helped promote the cause and value of an ITE education

As RADM (NS) Teo Chee Hean ceded his role as Education Minister, The Quality Workforce dedicates this tribute in honour of the Minister who has helped reposition ITE as an integral part of the mainstream education and training system.

ITE has seen many transformations while Minister Teo was at the helm of the Ministry of Education. He has played a catalytic role in many of ITE’s milestones; most significant being the Minister’s success in convincing 43 Members of Parliament to “come and see for themselves how well (ITE) students are doing”. Also of significance, the regrouping of ITE institutes into bigger ‘regional’ campuses, and the implementation of the National ITE Certificate or Nitec System for an appropriate recognition of the ITE qualification.

ITE on Show
Recalling fondly the MPs’ visits to ITE, Principal of ITE West, Mr Tan Hong Choon, revealed how the Minister knew “it (invitation to MPs) was an easy sell”. Said Mr Tan: “We are deeply touched by the confidence he has in ITE and the ITE education.” Minister Teo invited the MPs during the May 2002 Parliamentary Budget Debate where he made a strong case for the continual support of ITE.

In the same Debate, Minister Teo applauded ITE, citing that segment of the education system as one he was particularly proud of. He went on to add: “The real success of ITE has been the fact that it has successfully raised the prospects and maximised the potential of young Singaporeans who, in other education systems all over the world, would have been left behind.”

Going ‘Regional’
Many are today aware of ITE regrouping itself into three bigger ‘regional’ campuses, as announced by PM Goh Chok Tong at the August 2001 National Day Rally. But unbeknown to most, the idea of ITE ‘regional’ campuses was first mooted by Minister Teo during one of his visits to ITE in July 1998.

The regrouping will open up new opportunities for ITE to set itself apart and be benchmarked as a world-class technical institution. Come January 2005, ITE’s first ‘regional’ campus at Simei Avenue will open its door to 7,000 full-time and 8,000 part-time students.

Qualification of Pride
Over the years, ITE has benefited from Minister Teo’s insight and worldly wisdom. In formulating ITE’s new Nitec System for instance, he recommended that the levels of certification should be aligned with the educational qualifications of the students. He also highlighted the need to capture ‘ITE’ in the title of the certification because the name has a brand value. As he explained at the launch of the certification system in July 2002, “Nitec will be to ITE what a Diploma is to a Polytechnic or a Degree to the University”.

There is no doubt Minister Teo has had an impact on ITE. Mention him to staff and students, and many would speak with reverence of the gentlemanly figure whose personal attention and support they remember well. Principal of ITE East, Mr Yek Tiew Ming, who hosted the Minister on several occasions, shared: “We feel his genuine concern for the development and well-being of staff and students. He was always full of encouragement, guiding us on national and educational matters. We appreciate him for his interest in ITE and technical education.”

In the evolution of ITE, Minister Teo has left a legacy truly befitting a charismatic leader. Reflecting upon it, Dr Law Song Seng, Director & CEO/ITE, shared how ITE was much encouraged by the Minister through a letter he wrote to ITE’s Chairman, Mr Eric Gwee, in 2001. In it, he said: “ITE’s public image has improved significantly, in particular, the public recognition that ITE offers quality programmes in skills training and education for the technically-inclined school leavers. The clear public positioning of ITE as an institution which prepares an important segment of the workforce to power Singapore’s transition to a knowledge economy, is encouraging. ITE plays a crucial role of providing pre-employment skills training for school leavers, as well as continuing education and training for working adults in skills upgrading. ITE has been successful in providing our economy with the much-needed skilled manpower to allow Singapore to compete effectively in the global market.” Dr Law thus concluded: “I feel that his (Minister Teo’s) public recognition of the work of ITE, its value and achievements, has made a difference in our commitment to the cause of technical education in Singapore.”