Four win President's Award for inspiring teachers

Tuesday, September 1, 2009



[Above: Sharon Ann Cardoza, one of this year's President Award winners for teachers, pictured here with her students. ]

Ms Sharon Ann Cardoza, 38, subscribes to the philosophy that "every child matters" and personally folds a paper crane for each of her students as a reminder for them to believe in themselves.

The teacher at Farrer Park Primary school believes in getting to know her pupils better, and spends time with her pupils during recess and after school hours to assure them that she is always there for them.

"I believe strongly that we should always give our children hope. That's one thing we must never take away from them no matter their performance," said Ms Cardoza.

She once went beyond the call of duty for a boy in her class who was academically weak and had poor social skills.

When she found out that he had to go without food on some days as his mother had lost her job, she bought food for the family. When the boy fractured his leg some time later, she fetched him to school everyday in a taxi so that he would not miss school.

The passion and commitment to students are exemplified by Ms Cardoza and three other teachers. The four of them received this year's President's Award for Teachers during a Teachers' Day reception held at the Istana today.

The other teachers are Mr Terry Tan, 51, from Anglo-Chinese School (Primary), Madam Wong Lai Fong, 38, from Anderson Secondary School and Ms Lucy Fernandez, 42, from Catholic High School.

The award recognises the commitment of teachers towards the total development of students and to nation-building.

"These award-winning teachers are not just passionate about imparting knowledge, but also care deeply
about nurturing children as whole persons," said Mrs Josephine Teo, chairperson for the Government Parliamentary Committee for Education.

That education is not just about imparting book knowledge, but also developing the individual is what Madam Wong firmly believes in.

"I often share with fellow teachers that students are not in school to learn just content knowledge but values which cannot possibly be taught in textbooks," she said.

Counselling students on their correct choice of behaviour is part of Madam Wong's mentoring approach. She won over a notorious class known for being rude and unmotivated simply by talking to them.

"To know that a teacher has placed strong belief in them really encouraged them to work hard."

Posted by jitendra.k at 8:21 PM  

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