20 inspiring teachers recognised with LEAP Award

• 7 primary school teachers, 7 secondary school teachers, 3 special education teachers and 3 junior college teachers awarded
• 13 schools won their first ever LEAP Award
• SHHK celebrates 185 years with seminar on education heritage

Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan (SHHK) today honoured 20 inspiring teachers at the 14th LEAP Award. Guest-of-Honour Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for Education, presented the LEAP Award to seven primary school teachers, seven secondary school teachers, three special education teachers and three junior college teachers at the annual LEAP Award Presentation Ceremony.

The LEAP Award, which stands for Listening Educator for Advancement and Progress Award, was launched by the late President S R Nathan in 2011 and awarded by SHHK annually to recognise exceptional teachers who have made a positive impact in nurturing their students from the heart. The naming of the award signifies a leap of faith for a teacher to believe that students have the potential to excel beyond their capabilities.

Mr Thomas Chua, President of SHHK, said, “For 185 years, education has been at the heart of the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan’s mission. Since our founding, we have remained steadfast in our support for nurturing young minds, uplifting communities and advancing the nation through education. The LEAP Award reflects this commitment by honouring 20 exceptional teachers whose dedication and passion have made a profound impact on students.”

This year, the Award received a total of 329 nominations from 198 schools – 142 primary school teachers, 145 secondary school teachers, 29 special education teachers and 13 junior college teachers, with each school limited to two nominations. 13 schools saw their first ever LEAP Award recipients, namely, Tampines Meridian Junior College, Anglo-Chinese Junior College, Naval Base Primary School, Bukit View Primary School, Bendemeer Secondary School, Zhenghua Primary School, St Andrew’s Secondary School, Beatty Secondary School, MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens School, National Junior College, Maris Stella High School (Secondary), Mayflower Primary School and CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School (Primary).

Seminar on SHHK’s Education Heritage

As part of SHHK 185th anniversary celebration, a seminar was held in conjunction with the LEAP Award ceremony, highlighting SHHK’s enduring commitment towards education and its vital role in preserving cultural heritage through its focus on the Chinese language and culture in multicultural Singapore. Themed “Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan and its Education Heritage”, the seminar featured three distinguished speakers representing different eras of SHHK’s educational journey: Dr Lee Guan Kin, Founding Head of NTU’s Chinese Studies Department and alumni of Ai Tong School, Nan Chiau High School and Nanyang University; Dr Tan Chee Lay, Associate Dean at the National Institute of Education and alumni of Nan Chiau Primary School; and Mr Cai Yinzhou, Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and alumni of Tao Nan School. Moderated by former Straits Times Editor and China Bureau Chief Mr Peh Shing Huei (alumni of Nan Chiau Primary School), the session seeks to offer thoughtful perspectives on the evolving role of SHHK in Singapore’s education landscape.

Held mainly in Mandarin with simultaneous English interpretation, the seminar served as both a reflection on SHHK’s legacy and a forward-looking dialogue on the continuing significance of mother tongue languages in Singapore.

LEAP Award 2025 Recipients (in alphabetical order):

1. Mdm Ang Jingyi – Holy Innocent’s Primary School
2. Ms Bhuvaneswari d/o Govindasamy – APSN Katong School
3. Ms Chee Bee Seok – Presbyterian High School
4. Ms Chen Hsiu Cheun, Joy – Bukit View Secondary School
5. Mdm Chia Yi Fang, Nicolette – Tampines Meridian Junior College
6. Mr Ding Gong Yi – Anglo-Chinese Junior College
7. Mdm Ho Peak Yen – Naval Base Primary School
8. Mrs Kumutha Selvan – Bukit View Primary School
9. Ms Lee Jun May Joreen – NorthLight School
10. Ms Lim Ying Shung – Bendemeer Secondary School
11. Mdm Ong Yan Joo – Zhenghua Primary School
12. Mr Prinya Lovajana – St Andrew’s Secondary School
13. Miss Raja Shahridah Binte Raja Suhaini – Beatty Secondary School
14. Mdm Rosaline Tan Swee Ching – MINDS Lee Kong Chian Gardens School
15. Mdm Siti Hajar Binte Abdul Jalil – Nan Chiau Primary School
16. Mr Soh Ming Quan – Yuhua Secondary School
17. Mr Tan Xuan Wen Jeffrey – National Junior College
18. Ms Toh Wern-Ai Chloe – Maris Stella High School (Secondary)
19. Miss Wong Shilei Charmaine Anaya – Mayflower Primary School
20. Mdm Yong Sheue Mei – CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School (Primary)