The NIE TE21 is a transformative endeavour that will guide
the design, delivery and evaluation of NIE’s programmes
in order to provide the best education to our aspiring
and serving teachers to become 21st century teaching
professionals. It is a key initiative under the teaching
strategy of the NIE 3:3:3 Roadmap (the 5-Year Strategic
Plan 2007 – 2012) and a concrete response to the
educational challenges brought forth by the current global
landscape as well as anticipated future needs. Thus far,
21st century has been characterised by knowledge-driven
economies, rapid information exchanges and fast-moving
communication technologies which have created new
demands on education systems worldwide. In the 21st
century landscape, education must focus on nurturing the
whole child – morally, intellectually, physically, socially and
aesthetically. Students need to acquire new knowledge,
skills and dispositions to ensure their survival and success
as individuals, as members of the community, and as
citizens of our nation. To achieve this, we must develop
teachers who are able to undertake greater responsibilities
as they are at the forefront of educating our youth. It is
now universally accepted that the quality of the teaching
force determines the quality of education. As we raise
the standards for our children, our 21st century teachers
will also need the right values, skills and knowledge to
be effective practitioners who will bring about the desired
outcomes of education.