GEIS-新闻详情

Work stint in prison school renews secondary school teachers’ passion for their vocation

2023-09-15 00:00:00.0 海峡时报-新加坡原网页

SINGAPORE – Mr Muhammad Khairy Norady, who started teaching biology and chemistry in secondary school in 2012, became a teacher as he wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.

Ten years later, the 35-year-old is making a difference to a special group of students – by teaching in the Tanah Merah Prison School.

“I’ve always felt more comfortable interacting with more mature students in terms of age and intellect. And I’ve always believed that all of us have a purpose. So I wanted to go beyond my subject and help others,” Mr Khairy told The Straits Times.

When he first started teaching at the prison school, he was surprised that his adult students were very motivated, and asked many questions to clear any doubts that they had.

“My adult learners are more inquisitive. Unlike teenagers, they’re not so self-conscious. Surprisingly, they actually have a good sense of humour, and that makes classes enjoyable,” he said.

That being said, he acknowledges that working in a prison environment does have its challenges.

Unlike in a secondary school, where Mr Khairy can count on laboratory technicians to prepare items for lessons, in the prison school, he is a one-man show.

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“The teachers handle the chemicals, equipment and whatever we need to buy and prepare to conduct the lesson. So we have to do everything ourselves, all the logistics and administrative work.”

Another challenge he faces is the packed curriculum, and having to cater to the vast range of abilities in his class.

In a secondary school, students have at least four years to prepare for the GCE O-level examinations.

In the prison school, student inmates have only one year to prepare for the examinations.

Nonetheless, Mr Khairy is grateful for the experiences and interactions he is having with his student inmates. His two-year tenure ends in 2024, when he returns to a mainstream secondary school.

“Every lesson is an experience. The rewarding part is that students are happy to have me in class, and I’m happy to have them in class too. They’re excited about the lesson, and come ready with questions. So it’s a very meaningful process,” he said.

Mr Muhammad Khairy Norady is grateful for the experiences and interactions he has had with his student inmates. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Miss Ong Ying Kai, 32, joined the prison school in June.

Having spent almost eight years in Sengkang Secondary School as an English language and literature teacher, Miss Ong wanted to try teaching students of a different profile.

“I’ve always wanted to expand my reach and competency as an educator. I want to be an educator who is able to teach a diverse portfolio of students, and of different age groups,” Miss Ong told ST.

She initially had reservations about whether the student inmates would be receptive to her.

“I wondered whether I was a bit too young for this, and how the inmates would take to me. But my fears were unfounded,” said Miss Ong.

She said that the student inmates have always shown her respect, and she finds them to be very forthcoming, openly sharing their life experiences.

She had to adapt quickly to the academic rigour, and the many protocols to follow in the prison environment.

Miss Ong Ying Kai joined the prison school in June. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Furthermore, unlike secondary schools, where digital equipment is readily available, Miss Ong has had to think out of the box and plan lessons with the limited classroom resources.

Without Internet access, she could not use interactive online platforms to engage the student inmates.

“I found myself using the whiteboard more purposefully. We also do a lot of speaking,” said Miss Ong.

“The student inmates had lives (outside) before they committed crimes, and these are actually very valuable talking points. It just comes out very organically and the discussions can be very varied,” she added.

On Teachers’ Day, the student inmates presented her with a mini booklet of heartfelt notes to show her their gratitude, even though she had been teaching at the school for only a few months.

Like Mr Khairy, Miss Ong feels that at the end of her two-year stint, she will be a more effective educator.

“Without all these online interactive tools, it goes back to how engaging you are as a person in the classroom. And I think I might be more confident, now that I can actually hold students’ attention just by using very traditional materials,” she said.