Editorial: teacher education in Singapore in the twenty-first century—the past, the present and envisioning the future

Abstract

Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, commented poignantly that a country’s citizens are only as good as its teachers. This underscores the important role that teachers play not just contributing to a high-quality education system but also to the more pivotal role of nation-building. The mission of teacher education in preparing teachers to rise up to this grand challenge of nation-building becomes of primary importance. The papers of this special issue stem from a webinar where five scholars recounted the underpinning philosophy of the initiatives they had led and implemented in their tenure as deans of teacher education of the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. They provide an “insider” look at the challenges and opportunities faced. This editorial will expound on the key trends of teacher education as reflected the contributors in this special issue and discuss them against the concerns in each educational phase of Singapore’s journey before suggesting the continued importance of providing a relevant, responsive, and high-quality teacher education for the nation’s sustained growth and development amidst a rapidly changing global educational landscape.