Film-maker Royston Tan and lawyer Josephus Tan breaking 'Normal' barriers

Film-maker, lawyer, MPs among those who cheer MOE's decision

Lawyer Josephus Tan and film-maker Royston Tan, both Normal stream students in the past, talk about the stigma they faced in school and their reactions to the Education Ministry's decision to stop streaming.
Award-winning film-maker Royston Tan (top) and lawyer Josephus Tan (above) are both former Normal stream students who said the decision to abolish secondary school streaming was a long time coming.
Award-winning film-maker Royston Tan (above) and lawyer Josephus Tan are both former Normal stream students who said the decision to abolish secondary school streaming was a long time coming. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Award-winning film-maker Royston Tan (top) and lawyer Josephus Tan (above) are both former Normal stream students who said the decision to abolish secondary school streaming was a long time coming.
Award-winning film-maker Royston Tan and lawyer Josephus Tan (above) are both former Normal stream students who said the decision to abolish secondary school streaming was a long time coming. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Amelia Teng
Education Correspondent
Updated
Mar 09, 2019, 05:25 PM
Published
Mar 07, 2019, 05:00 AM
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Think of Mr Royston Tan and failure will not be the first thing that comes to mind. But the award-winning home-grown film-maker had a rough start to life after being told from a young age by teachers that he would have no future.

Similarly, lawyer Josephus Tan has given talks regularly at secondary schools and the Institute of Technical Education to prove to students that he is a living example of a person who made good.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 07, 2019, with the headline Breaking 'Normal' barriers. Subscribe

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