Singapore Centre for Chinese Language (SCCL) organised two sessions of the Heads of Department (HOD) Focus Group Discussion cum Teachers' Professional Development Partnership Appreciation Ceremony in 2017. The session for Primary HODs was held on 31 October, and the one for Secondary/Junior College/Centralised Institute took place on 2 November. Apart from disseminating the information about teacher training, SCCL took this opportunity to gain a thorough understanding of the teachers' training needs.

        The highlight of the event was the presentation of "Partnership Appreciation Certificates". Mr Pang Choon How (Director, Mother Tongue Languages, Curriculum Planning and Development Division 1, Ministry of Education) and Dr Foo Suan Fong (Executive Director, SCCL) presented the certificates to the HODs and teachers who had organised training courses for CL teachers in 2017, to commemorate their efforts and contributions.

        Two types of Appreciation Certificates were presented. The "Teachers' Professional Development Partnership Appreciation Certificates" were presented to HODs from 33 primary schools and 18 secondary schools/junior colleges/centralised institute who had organised TRAISI COE training or specialised training courses in 2017. The "Teachers' Professional Development Long Term Partnership Appreciation Certificates" were presented to the HODs from 9 primary schools and 6 secondary schools/junior colleges/centralised institute. They had organised TRAISI COE training or specialised training courses for CL teachers in their respective school clusters over the past three years (2015 – 2017). Principals and Vice Principals of the awarded schools were also invited to attend the ceremony. 

        The programmes for the day also included a sharing session on ZBSchools.sg and its student newspaper revamp by Singapore Press Holdings and another on the importance of developing humanistic qualities by National Heritage Board.

        We would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to all the invited Guests, Principals, Vice Principals, HODs and teachers for supporting the event.

Introduction of Singapore Centre for Chinese Language by Dr Foo Suan Fong

 Teachers focusing on their discussions

Mr Pang Choon How and Dr Foo Suan Fong presenting a certificate to a HOD