NIE as a university-based teacher education institution
has a strong foundation in terms of the structure and
substance of its teacher education programmes. Like
many high-performing teacher education providers in
the world, NIE’s model provides theoretical foundation
to produce the “thinking teacher” whilst concurrently
having strong partnerships with key stakeholders and the
schools to ensure strong clinical practice and realities of
professionalism in teacher development. Our strength also
lies in a strong base in subject matter and pedagogical
content knowledge, as well as a strong connection to
educational research. The adoption of the universitybased
model demonstrates that teaching is a profession,
where the development of teachers is underpinned by
evidenced-based learning, and where teachers require
the award of a degree as a pre-requisite for joining the
profession.
Previous reviews affirmed both the structure and
substance of NIE’s teacher education programmes. In the
light of changing needs in Singapore’s education system
and developments in the global educational landscape,
this current review builds on existing strengths to bring
teacher education onto a higher plane of excellence,
drawing on the perspectives of stakeholders and putting
the 21st century learner at the very heart of our educational
goals. ‘21st century learners call for 21st century
teachers’ is the impetus for the Programme Review and
Enhancement (PRE) 2008-2009. Based on extensive
literature review, understanding of existing and emerging
trends, local profile, changing landscape in policies and
initiatives, and research data, we explored possible and
viable avenues for enhancements – the culmination of
these efforts is a new Model of Teacher Education for
the 21st century (TE21) at NIE .