Rethinking teacher education in pandemic times and beyond

Area of Science:

• Education
• Future-Ready Learning
• Teacher Education

Background:

• Global disruptions like the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and COVID-19 necessitate rethinking education.
• Future-ready learners require a lifelong learning mindset with essential values, skills, and knowledge for national resilience and prosperity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail how Singapore's National Institute of Education (NIE) is transforming teacher education.
• To articulate the archetype of the future-ready teacher and foster learner agency.

Main Methods:

• Adopting a values-driven, evidence-informed, and future-focused approach in teacher education.
• Drawing on international best practices and local innovations.
• Reimagining, restructuring, and streamlining teacher education programs.

Main Results:

• NIE is developing interdisciplinary programs to enhance teacher education.
• Focus on nurturing teacher educators, teachers, and students to be future-ready.
• Contextualizing global best practices for local needs.

Conclusions:

• Singapore's NIE is proactively adapting teacher education for future challenges.
• The goal is to cultivate an entire education ecosystem equipped for future disruptions and opportunities.