From clay to childhood memories: Pritam Singh, Janil Puthucheary and Elysa Chen mark Teachers' Day

As Singapore marks Teachers' Day on Friday (Sept 4), several public figures took to social media to pay tribute to the educators who have shaped their lives and communities.

Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh shared how he and his wife recently took up clay pottery, while Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Education Dr Janil Puthucheary reflected on the contributions of educators.

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Elysa Chen, meanwhile, looked back on her primary school days and shared a heartfelt tribute to her former form teacher, Ms Karen Albuquerque, from CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Pritam said he and his wife had spent the past few weeks trying their hand at clay pottery at the Weekend Worker, under the guidance of a teacher named Ivan.

He highlighted the studio's aim to provide a "safe zone" where students can unwind and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city through craft.

For Pritam, the experience was also a reminder of the value of traditional art forms and specialised skills, particularly in an age where AI tools can make tasks increasingly accessible.

He encouraged people to pick up new skills and engage in productive activities, adding that the person imparting the knowledge could be an important part of the learning experience.

"Sometimes, the X-factor is truly the person imparting the skills, knowledge and expertise. The Teacher," he wrote.

Sharing a photograph of her former class, Chen recalled how she used to chat with Albuquerque after school about "little chitchats".

She also remembered a time when her teacher wrote a note in her discipline card after she forgot to bring her school blouse to change into after PE.

Although she was devastated at the time, Chen said she could see the sympathy in her teacher's eyes, and later understood that Albuquerque was holding her accountable because she believed she could do better.

That moment, Chen said, had stayed with her for decades.

Dr Janil's post took a broader look at the role of educators, as he reflected on the recipients of this year's President's Award for Teachers.

At the Teachers' Day Reception, he said it was "truly uplifting" to hear about the impact the 2026 recipients had made on their students and school communities.

Dr Janil, who is also Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, said their stories reflected what education was ultimately about — believing in every learner, helping each person realise their potential and making a difference beyond the classroom.

He also thanked educators for the "care, commitment, and heart" they bring to their work each day, wishing them a happy Teachers' Day.

asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com

9月4日（星期五）是新加坡教师节，许多公众人物在社交媒体上向塑造了他们生活和社区的教育工作者致敬。

工人党主席毕丹星分享了他和妻子最近学习陶艺的经历，而教育部高级政务部长贾尼尔·普图切里博士则反思了教育工作者的贡献。

与此同时，碧山-大巴窑集选区议员陈慧珊回顾了她的小学时光，并向她以前的班主任、来自圣婴女校的凯伦·阿尔伯克基女士表达了衷心的敬意。

普里坦说，他和妻子在过去的几周里，在一位名叫伊万的老师的指导下，在“周末工人”陶艺工作室尝试制作陶器。

他强调，工作室的目标是提供一个“安全区”，让学生可以通过手工艺放松身心，远离城市的喧嚣。

对于普里坦来说，这次经历也让他意识到传统艺术形式和专业技能的价值，尤其是在人工智能工具能够让任务变得越来越容易完成的时代。

他鼓励人们学习新技能并参与生产性活动，并补充说，传授知识的人可能是学习经历的重要组成部分。

“有时候，真正起决定性作用的因素是传授技能、知识和专业技能的人，也就是老师，”他写道。

陈分享了一张她以前班级的照片，回忆起她放学后经常和阿尔伯克基闲聊“一些小事”。

她还记得有一次，她忘记带校服上衣去体育课后换上，老师就在她的纪律处分卡上写了一张纸条。

尽管当时她非常沮丧，但陈说她能从老师的眼神中看到同情，后来她明白阿尔伯克基之所以让她承担责任，是因为她相信她可以做得更好。

陈女士说，那一刻在她心中留下了几十年的印象。

Janil 博士的文章更广泛地探讨了教育工作者的角色，并回顾了今年总统教师奖的获得者。

在教师节招待会上，他表示，听到 2026 年获奖者对他们的学生和学校社区产生的影响，真是“令人振奋”。

贾尼尔博士同时也是可持续发展与环境部的高级国务部长，他表示，他们的故事反映了教育的最终意义——相信每一个学习者，帮助每个人发挥他们的潜力，并在课堂之外产生影响。

他还感谢教育工作者每天在工作中展现出的“关爱、奉献和热情”，并祝愿他们教师节快乐。

asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com