Singapore’s Approach to Developing Teachers

"It is widely known that as part of the national mindset, teachers in Singapore are highly appreciated and the teacher profession is attractive for young people. Woon Chia describes thoroughly in her book "Singapore’s Approach to Developing Teachers: Hindsight, Insight and Foresight", how professional teachers in Singapore are educated, what kind of competences they learn in initial teacher education and how they learn these competences. Woon Chia Liu helps the reader to understand the deep meaning of teacher professionalism through her interesting description on the education context of Singapore. I highly recommend the book to teacher educators, teachers, policymakers and persons who are responsible for the development of teachers at the national level."

- Jari Lavonen, Professor and Chair of the National Teacher Education Forum, University of Helsinki, Finland

"Around the world there is acute awareness of the importance of teachers to help students develop the competencies they need to thrive, but less clarity about how to achieve this. Woon Chia’s careful study of how Singapore prepares teachers could not be more relevant. A careful scholarly analysis of the conceptual underpinnings of Singapore’s framework for teacher education and of the programs of Singapore’s National Institute of Education of teacher education, the book benefits from the unique insights and knowledge of a scholar who has also been an architect and leader of the efforts it studies. Everyone interested in the future of the teaching profession should read this book, it will change the way you think about what it takes to support excellent teachers."

- Fernando M. Reimers, Ford Foundation Professor of the Practice of International Education and Director of the Global Education Innovation Initiative at the Harvard Graduate School of Education

"Teachers play an invaluable role in every society, but not every society appreciates their importance. In this rich and detailed work, Woon Chia reveals the Singaporean strategy of valuing, preparing, and supporting educators to facilitate the learning and development of citizens. This is a critical reading for school leaders, policy makers and researchers around the globe."

- Richard Ryan, Co-Founder of Self-Determination Theory, and Professor, Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney