In a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world, there is a need to continue to improve the educational system while, at the same time, pre-empting and responding to disruptive forces.

To do that, innovation should be at the core of our educational culture, system and operation. ("SIM to open international school in 2017"; Dec 12).

We need to position our educational leaders to be pioneers of change and catalysts for improvement and strengthen research and development, right down to the school and classroom levels.

There is a heightened need for educational leaders to work closely with key leaders from not just the the public but also the people and private sectors to future-proof our students.

It is not uncommon for educational incumbents to hold on to status quo, especially if the current systems have achieved multiple awards and successes.

Educational leaders may be over-focusing on current systems without realising that what helped them to succeed in the past may not necessarily help them to succeed in the future.

In the process of working on current urgencies, they may not realise that the landscape is changing.

They may not be educating students to meet the demands of future employers and the economy.

It can often be hard for a big educational ship to alter its direction to make the necessary changes.

The slowness to change may affect how we shape our students to meet the fast-changing needs of their communities and society.

Also, we need to be courageous and curious enough to establish experimental sites within the current system and without, and continue to pioneer radical breakthroughs.

Moving forward, let us look at how we can disrupt ourselves for a brighter future and become the disruptor before we become disrupted by external forces.

Patrick Liew Siow Gian (Dr)