The National Institute of Education (NIE) welcomed on Tuesday another 329 new teachers to the profession. Of the cohort, 17 teachers are from the part-time bachelor of education programme, which started in 2008 for non-graduate school teachers currently in service.

Professor Lee Sing Kong, NIE's director, reminded the new recruits at the first teachers' investiture ceremony for the year that as educators, they are entrusted to prepare the nation's youth to be independent learners and contribute to society.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Manpower Hawazi Daipi, who was guest of honour at the ceremony, added that as the ministry moves towards an education that goes beyond pursuing academic excellence, a teacher's role is even more critical in helping students succeed. He singled out some graduands who had done community projects with disadvantaged groups of youth in their time at NIE.

He also awarded four teachers with prizes for their outstanding academic achievements at the ceremony held at the Nanyang Technological University.