Latest news with #PGDE
Independent Singapore
5 days ago
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
New era in education: Desmond Lee revamps teacher training and MOE's direction to prepare students for a changing world
SINGAPORE: Teachers, long seen as the quiet engine of Singapore's education system, may soon experience a shift in how they are trained — and recognised. At the 12th Teachers' Conference and ExCEL Fest (TCEF2025) held at the Singapore Expo this week, newly appointed Education Minister Desmond Lee announced a revamp of the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), the foundational training programme for degree holders entering the teaching profession. In his first major policy address since taking the helm at the Ministry of Education (MOE), Lee framed the overhaul as both practical and philosophical — a way to future-proof the system not just for students, but for the educators guiding them. 'We learn by doing,' he said. 'And we will walk alongside our new teachers as you hone your craft to help our students learn and grow.' From theory to practice: A faster, flexible pathway The PGDE, currently a 16-month course administered by the National Institute of Education (NIE), will be shortened to a one-year programme. For decades, the PGDE has served as the professional gateway for aspiring teachers, covering education studies, curriculum specialisations, practicum stints in schools, and language training. Its broad-based academic rigour has trained generations of teachers, but it has also drawn critique for being rigid, overly theoretical, and misaligned with the fast-evolving challenges of today's classroom. See also Leon Perera asks: Do we have true meritocracy in Singapore? The new model hopes to change that, not by discarding theory, but by embedding it meaningfully in hands-on teaching environments. For many in the education space, this signals a long-overdue shift away from a passive, credential-heavy pipeline towards one that privileges agility, creativity, and real-world responsiveness. Teaching in the age of AI, fragmentation, and climate crisis But this wasn't just a bureaucratic update to a diploma. In a speech delivered to a packed hall of teachers and parents, Lee used the moment to reflect on what Singaporean education must become — and what teachers must be equipped to face. 'The world our children will inherit will be very different from the one we now know,' he said. Pointing to global conflict, rising protectionism, the encroachment of AI, and the misinformation glut on social media, Lee described a landscape of seismic change — one where traditional answers no longer suffice. 'Intelligence will tell us to push the boundaries,' he added. 'But we will also need moral judgment to tell us where to stop.' That dual charge — equipping students with both capability and conscience — now falls more heavily on educators. It is, in Lee's words, a call for teachers to 'nurture values-driven pioneers, innovators, problem-solvers, bridge-builders, connectors and contributors for the betterment of our community, our nation, and even the region and the world.' From 'good workers' to thoughtful designers? Critics of Singapore's education system have long argued that it focuses too heavily on producing efficient workers rather than original thinkers. In that light, Lee's address — and the structural reforms it accompanies — reads as more than an administrative refresh. It may mark a deeper shift in ethos. In workshops held during the conference, teachers explored everything from the chemistry behind cooking to nature journaling as a medium for building a sense of place — activities that subtly underscore the move toward creativity, experimentation, and context-rich learning. Lee has said, 'Not only do we want our students to learn how to navigate a more complex world, we hope that our students will also grow up to be values-driven pioneers, innovators, problem-solvers, bridge-builders, connectors and contributors for the betterment of our community, our nation, and even the region and the world. Only then can Singapore continue to be a shining light far beyond SG60.' For a system often accused of being rigid, this growing encouragement of flexibility and design thinking feels intentional. And with Lee — one of the younger ministers in Cabinet — now overseeing the ministry, MOE may finally be signalling a generational turn in tone and ambition. Opening the classroom to second careers The refreshed PGDE also opens the door wider to mid-career professionals — individuals who bring with them industry experience, life lessons, and alternative worldviews. Lee expressed hope that more such professionals will join the teaching fraternity, noting their potential to 'bring values, industry experience, and heart into the classroom.' In a time when moral literacy, critical reasoning, and interdisciplinary fluency are increasingly vital, the inclusion of diverse teaching profiles could prove to be a quiet revolution in bureaucratic Singapore — one built not from the top down, but from the evolution of the classroom up. What this means for the road ahead As Singapore looks to its post-SG60 future, education reform remains one of the most sensitive yet vital fronts. The PGDE revamp — while technical in nature — may be the first step in a larger reimagining of what it means to teach, and what it means to learn, in the republic. It's not just about shortening a course. It's about reshaping the journey. Because if, as Lee says, the classroom is where the next generation learns how to navigate complexity, then teacher training is where the map gets drawn. And now, it seems, that map is beginning to evolve for the students it hopes to guide.
CNA
5 days ago
- General
- CNA
Quality of teacher training matters more than duration of NIE programme, aspiring educators say
SINGAPORE: Reducing the duration of postgraduate teacher training in Singapore from 16 months to 12 could make a difference in attracting applicants, but won't be as important as making the programme both effective and efficient, aspiring educators said. Earlier this week, Education Minister Desmond Lee announced that the training period for the National Institute of Education's (NIE) Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) would be shortened by four months. This is part of a regular review of teacher preparation programmes, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE) and NIE. 'The review builds on the strengths of the current PGDE, and will not affect the rigour of the programme,' the agencies told CNA in response to queries about the change. The review - by educators and leaders from MOE and NIE - is ongoing, with details and the start date of the shorter diploma programme to be announced later. In 2016, the PGDE programme was extended from 12 months to 16 months. CNA spoke to three prospective teachers and one teacher who recently completed the programme, about the significance of the the latest change. Mr Linus Chen, currently in the programme, believes a shortened course could still be effective as long as useful classes are retained. These include educational psychology and subject-specific classes, though there are others that feel redundant due to overlaps, the 26-year-old told CNA. He said the contract teaching stint before starting the programme was 'very, very important', both for schools to assess trainees and for trainees to see if they are suited to teach. According to MOE, this stint generally lasts at least four months. The ensuing 16-month NIE programme then includes another two stints of teaching in schools – four weeks of teaching assistantship, then 10 weeks of teaching practice towards the end of the course. 'To be very frank, the best way to learn is to do it on the job,' said Mr Chen. 'Trying to learn teaching without having real students is like trying to learn driving without having a car.' What is valuable about NIE's programme is having time to reflect on past teaching experiences and sharing ideas with friends, he added. A junior college teacher who switched careers and attended the NIE programme last year also said the teaching stint before the course was the 'most valuable part'. Shortening the NIE course is unlikely to make a difference to the quality of the programme, said the man, who declined to be named. 'Teachers usually (give) feedback that most of what is taught in NIE is not applicable on the ground in schools anyway,' he added. 'Some other modules that took place during our year at NIE felt unnecessary or cursory, so I do feel the efficiency of the training duration – rather than the length – is what should be looked into.' From 2022 to 2024, around 390 student teachers enrolled in NIE's postgraduate diploma programme each year. They were either fresh graduates or hailing from different industries. ATTRACTING TEACHERS In announcing the review, the education minister said it was to meet the learning needs of an 'increasingly diverse" teaching force. Mr Lee also said MOE was redoubling efforts to attract teachers and welcome people with different life experiences and skills, including those making a career switch. One mid-career switcher who has applied to NIE's programme said the four-month reduction would make a 'tangible difference' for him. It would make the programme 'less daunting' for new applicants from a 'sunk cost perspective', said the man, who took a pay cut to join teaching. He declined to be named in this article. He too said that what mattered more was making the training effective and helping teachers adapt to the real classroom environment. 'I can only hope that the truncation of the training period is due to a meaningful consolidation of training content, and not a removal of important training opportunities,' he said. One teacher-in-training currently in the NIE programme said those who want to hit the ground running may be incentivised to take up a shorter course. The junior college teacher who attended last year, however, told CNA he did not expect the shorter duration to make a big difference for those passionate about teaching. NIE associate professor in policy curriculum and leadership Jason Tan, who is not involved in the review, noted that the postgraduate programme faces the challenge of equipping both fresh graduates and mid-career professionals, who may have varying degrees of exposure to training and education, with the necessary skills. Anecdotally, he has observed more mid-career professionals training to become teachers, though this is not a recent phenomenon. Back in 2008, MOE already moved to raise salaries and speed up promotions for mid-career switchers. At the time, there were 6,600 mid-career teachers, making up 22 per cent of the education service. Ultimately, a shorter training period is just one consideration influencing job seekers' decisions, Assoc Prof Tan pointed out. Other factors like macroeconomic trends and the emergence of new fields of work also impact the relative attractiveness of teaching as a career, and these are not within MOE's control, he said. PRACTICAL LEARNING ALIGNED TO INTERESTS MOE and NIE told CNA the ongoing review will refresh teacher preparation in two key ways. First, it will strengthen professional learning support both during the diploma programme and when teachers enter schools. With a focus on integrating theory and practice, student teachers will learn through "different modalities, opportunities for personalised and collaborative learning and integration of skills and knowledge across different courses and learning experiences'. Upon graduation, new teachers will receive more structured support through 'bite-sized, practice-oriented learning sessions that draw on their daily classroom teaching'. 'This will enable them to better contextualise their learning within authentic classroom experiences,' said MOE and NIE. Second, student teachers will have more flexibility and autonomy to shape their learning. 'For example, while all teachers take core courses essential to teaching, new teachers will be able to select electives aligned to their needs and interests,' said MOE and NIE. Assoc Prof Tan cautioned against viewing the shortening of the NIE programme duration as a 'simplistic" move. He expects it to involve a rethinking of course structure and offerings, for new teachers to strengthen their skills in priority areas. For possible electives, he pointed to six practice areas prioritised in the SkillsFuture for Educators professional development roadmap. These are: Assessment to identify and address learning gaps; supporting special needs students; inquiry-based learning using questions and evidence; digital pedagogy; differentiated instruction for students with different needs; and character and citizenship education. Electives could let new teachers explore these areas in more depth while being trained in core competencies, he said. These core competencies are likely to include assessment of learning and performance; parent engagement; teacher-student relationships; and educational psychology and pedagogical practices, among others.
Globe and Mail
02-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
PGD Eco Solutions, Inc. Announces Name Change to Intelithrive, Inc. and Launches New Website to Reflect Strategic Business Pivot
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla., June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PGD Eco Solutions, Inc. (OTC: PGDE), an emerging public company, announces a corporate name change to Intelithrive, Inc. ('Company'), reflecting its strategic pivot to becoming a next-generation incubator focused on artificial intelligence (AI), software-as-a-service (SaaS), and digital innovation. As part of this transformation, the Company has officially launched its new corporate website at and appointed two key executives to lead the company into its next phase of growth. Strategic Rebrand Reflects AI and SaaS Incubation Focus The new name, Intelithrive, Inc. represents the Company's evolution from its legacy operations in environmental solutions to a bold, forward-looking mission of accelerating innovation through incubation, investment, and operational support. The Company aims to launch, acquire, and nurture AI-powered startups in sectors including fintech, predictive analytics, consumer platforms, and decentralized technologies. Website Launch The newly unveiled website, offers insight into the company's strategic direction, portfolio ambitions, and brand identity. It also serves as a hub for investors, partners, and entrepreneurs interested in collaborating with Intelithrive. 'Intelithrive marks a new chapter as we build a platform that empowers disruptive ideas to thrive,' said the CEO. 'With a sharper focus and stronger team, we're excited to drive shareholder value through innovation.' About Intelithrive Intelithrive Inc. (formerly PGD Eco Solutions Inc.) is a public company headquartered in New Port Richey, Florida, dedicated to launching and scaling disruptive startups at the intersection of artificial intelligence, software, and digital innovation. Through a proprietary incubation model, the company identifies high-potential ideas and accelerates their development through capital, technology, and leadership support - FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT: Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Except for historical matters contained herein, this press release's statements are forward-looking. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "may", "will", "to", "plan", "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "could", "would", "estimate," or "continue", or the negative other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent our management's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date hereof. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in the Company's filings with OTC Markets. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
