National Institute of Education

Establishment

The National Institute of Education (NIE) was established on 1 July 1991 as an institute of the Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

NIE's Vision

To be an Institute of Distinction

NIE's Mission

To excel in teacher education and educational research 

Objectives

Courses/Programmes

The Institute offers a variety of courses/programmes leading to a range of qualifications from diplomas to bachelor degrees to postgraduate degrees.

The four-year bachelor degree programmes aim to provide rigorous university education and to produce graduates with the skills to teach in schools.  The programmes lead to the award of the following degrees:

Candidates may be awarded honours degrees based on excellent overall performance in the four year programmes. 


Other programmes of initial teacher-training lead to the award of the following qualifications:

(which qualifies a university degree holder to join the teaching profession and which has several specialisations, namely, secondary school teaching, primary school teaching and teaching of Physical Education) 

(which qualifies GCE 'A' level holders, Polytechnic Diploma holders and GCE 'O' level holders (after completing a two-year preparatory course conducted by NIE) to teach in primary schools [for Dip Ed(General) and Dip Ed (Chinese/Malay/Tamil)] and in secondary schools [for Dip Ed (Art/ Music/ Malay/ Tamil Specialisation)] 

(which qualifies GCE 'A' level holders and Polytechnic Diploma holders to teach Physical Education in primary schools.)

(which qualifies holders of diplomas from the polytechnics, the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts or the LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts  to teach Art, Music or Home Economics in secondary schools)

(which qualifies nominated teachers of special education organisations and special needs officers of the Ministry of Education to teach special needs children in organisations and schools)


The Institute also conducts formal professional programmes for practising teachers. These include the :

(which provides training for teachers to function as effective Heads of Departments in their schools)

(a professional development course for senior teachers)

          (a professional development course for senior teachers to take on higher leadership responsibilities)

(designed to prepare education officers for school principalship)

          (an advanced executive programme for senior leaders)

Higher Degrees by Research

In line with the increasing emphasis on research in the Humanities, Sciences, Education and Physical Education, the Institute also offers higher degree studies by research leading to the degrees of:

 
In addition to the above programmes, the Institute offers the following Master's programmes:

Master's programme (either by Coursework with Dissertation or by Coursework Only)

  • Master of Arts (Applied Linguistics)

    •

    This programme focuses on the needs of English Language teachers and other professionals working in the field of language and language education.  The programme balances coverage of theoretical knowledge and practical application.  Participants will critically review current research in applied linguistics and develop specialised knowledge in the theory and practice of language education and use. They will also have opportunities to apply their new knowledge in their professional contexts and develop skills for synthesis and evaluation of relevant literature.  As part of their overall professional development, they will learn relevant skills for conducting small-scale action research.

    This is an executive programme designed to enhance the leadership capability of school executives and managers of other educational sectors to add value to the continuous development of human resources in their organisations. It aims to enable aspiring leaders in education to become more informed about critical issues in educational management, and to cope positively and effectively with the management challenges that are currently impacting on education.

    This programme is designed for educational and training professionals working in schools, universities, polytechnics, businesses and e-learning industries.  The participants will learn about the design, application, development and management of information technologies (including the use of e-learning), as well as theoretical underpinnings of designing learning environments.  The programme aims to impart to participants the theoretical knowledge and practical skills real-world instructional and performance problems, employing a variety of learning modalities.  Participants typically include school's Head of Department IT or IT co-ordinators, corporate trainers, instructional software developers, managers of e-learning environments and other educational and training professionals.

    This is a programme which can support teachers who may need to respond with cross-disciplinary perspectives in the disciplines of history, geography and social studies.  The goal is to help the participants to develop a critical understanding of social studies, history and geography with a strong grounding in the philosophies that have guided both scholarship and the development of each of the relevant disciplines and how these can be applied to the study of the social issues of our time.

    While the programme is designed for those who have relevant background knowledge in one or more of the following disciplines and school subjects such as geography, history and social studies, it is tailored for participants who wish to broaden their multi-disciplinary perspectives on the development of our societies in space and time.

    This programme is primarily designed for teachers and colleagues working for the Ministry of Education.  It provides participants with an opportunity to explore the latest issues in education and to investigate important issues associated with their educational environment.

    There are 18 areas of specialization.  This allows participants to choose the area that best fits their interest as well as career path, whether that path is towards the Master Teacher Track, Specialist Track, or a general desire to update knowledge and skills.

    The specialisations are Art Education; Chinese Language Education; Curriculum and Teaching; Drama Education; Early Childhood Education; Educational and Psychological Measurement and Evaluation; English Language Education; English Literature; Gifted Education; Learning Sciences & Technologies; Malay Language Education; Mathematics Education; Music Education; Primary Education; Science Education; Secondary Education; Special Education; and Tamil Language Education.

    This programme is designed for participants with an interest generally in human movement studies, including physical education, sport, fitness, health and wellness. The subjects enable participants to work with the faculty in areas of particular interest and to complement these interest areas with related subjects from the Physical Education and Sports Science Academic Group as well as across the university.  Participants will acquire research skills (both qualitative and quantitative) which will encourage critical inquiry and creative thinking in dimensions of the human movement sciences.

    This programme is tailored to meet the needs of working teachers, science graduates or professionals interested in the life sciences.  It is designed and mass-customised in manageable subjects to suit the applicant’s previous educational background.

    It aims to provide teachers and science graduates with specialised knowledge in the respective fields of life sciences  – specifically in the areas of Physics, Chemistry, the Environment, Animal and Plant Sciences – by addressing not only the knowledge base, but also the necessary experimental skills required.  Without sacrificing the necessary breadth and depth of the multi-disciplinary nature of the life sciences, the participant is offered a highly personalised roadmap in which the most recent scientific developments are taught, and social and bioethical issues are discussed.

    As participants receive training in the basic concepts, conduct experiments and projects under experienced and highly qualified scientists, they are given the opportunity to interact and explore vast new realms in the life sciences.

    There are 5 areas of specialisation, namely Applied Physics; Applied Plant Sciences, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences and Zoological Sciences.

    Master's Programme (by Coursework only)

    Master's Programme (by Coursework with Dissertation)

    This programme is designed to provide theoretical knowledge, research insights and practical skills to individuals who have the pre-requisite qualifications to train as specialists in the field of Educational Psychology or Counselling Psychology.

     
    The Institute also offers the following Advanced Diploma and Advanced Postgraduate Diploma programmes:

    ADVANCED DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES

    Designed to provide teachers with in-depth training in the knowledge of Chinese language and literature, enhancement in the communicative skills in teaching Chinese Language and professional development in pedagogy for teaching Chinese Language. 

    Designed to provide primary, secondary and college teachers who are interested in drama and drama education with an understanding of the issues and practices that will enable them to work within schools using drama as a pedagogical method and as a means of making theatre.

    Designed to provide teachers with a deeper understanding of developments in the teaching and learning of English, exploring integrative approaches to the teaching  and learning of English and appropriate strategies for teaching English.

    Designed to provide teachers with in-depth training in guidance and counselling and skills in planning, co-ordinating, guiding and evaluating counselling programmes.

    Designed to enhance teachers' knowledge of the Malay language especially in Higher Malay, the appreciation of the Malay literature, culture and history.  Besides keeping abreast of the latest developments in Malay pedagogy, teachers will also be able to acquire practical skills in setting papers, marking and correcting pupils' compositions.

    Designed to address the pedagogical needs and studio experience required of primary art teachers, by developing specialized approaches to art practices and providing opportunities for reflection on current educational issues.

    Designed to provide teachers with in-depth training in primary mathematics teaching and skills in planning, co-ordinating, guiding and evaluating the mathematics curriculum.

    Designed to provide teachers with in-depth training in primary music teaching and skills in planning and organising music curriculum for schools.

    Designed to provide teachers with in-depth training in Primary Social Studies teaching and skills in planning, co-ordinating, guiding and evaluating the Social Studies curriculum.

    Designed to provide teachers the opportunities to learn and explore recent knowledge and developments in the biological and physical sciences and their applications to everyday life. To further develop skills and knowledge needed for teaching primary science in the changing educational landscape.

    Designed to provide teachers with in-depth training in how to meet the variety of special learning and behavioural needs of pupils in schools as well as how to assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes.

    Designed to offer teachers the opportunity to customize their own learning, based on their instructional needs and interests in different schools, and across at least two subject areas within the primary school curriculum.  It also offers them a greater scope of elective modules otherwise unavailable within disciplinary Advanced Diplomas.

               Designed to provide teachers with in-depth knowledge of the skills required to create a differentiated curriculum as well as the teaching strategies that can be used to meet the needs of highly able learners


    The Institute also offers the following Certificate (In-service) Programmes to nominated teachers of the Ministry of Education owing to new initiatives from the Ministry of Education e.g. to enable teachers to teach pupils with special needs and also to teach pupils with high ability.

    Designed to provide teachers with training on how to cater to children with special needs within mainstream settings and also to acquire an understanding of what constitutes special needs.

    Designed to provide teachers with an understanding of the needs of High Ability pupils and on developing innovative teaching strategies and various ways to develop students’ potential and talents.
     

    The Institute also offers the following Diploma (In-service) Programmes to nominated teachers of the Ministry of Education in the area of school needs e.g. to have a full time school counselor in every school; and to have trained teachers with a general diploma in education to teach Physical Education at primary level.

    Designed to train personnel to become full time school counsellors. The participants will be able to perform school counsellors’ role in guidance and counseling in schools, use individual counselling skills and group guidance to assist school pupils, able to work with teachers, parents and other professionals to effectively enhance pupils’ learning and development.

    Designed to develop professional competence and expertise in teaching Physical Education as a major subject. It enables teachers to follow an academic and knowledge-based approach to Physical Education.
     

    ADVANCED POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES

    Designed to upgrade the standard of our Chinese Language teachers.  This programme is targeted primarily at potential student teachers admitted to the PGDE (Pri) (Chinese Specialisation) on a probationary basis and in-service Chinese Language teachers with a PGDE (Pri) (Chinese Specialisation).

    Designed to provide understanding of the issues and practices that will enable participants to work within schools using drama as a pedagogical tool and a means of making theatre.  Aspects of theory and practice will be explored within workshop teaching sessions, with opportunities to improve performing and facilitating skills.

    Designed to broaden their knowledge of the trends, issues and practices in Design and Technology (D&T) education both locally and globally with particular reference to secondary school pupils' holistic education and to develop professional practice and a deeper understanding of programme design in line with syllabus requirements, emerging technologies, D&T philosophies and educational reforms and initiatives.

    Designed to provide teachers with in-depth training in guidance and counselling and skills in planning, co-ordinating, guiding and evaluating counselling programmes.

    Designed to provide teachers with knowledge and training in teaching, training and curriculum design with the use of learning sciences and technologies.

    Designed to provide teachers with in-depth training in the life sciences and their applications to everyday life as well as integrative approaches for the teaching and learning of the life sciences in schools.

    Designed to provide teachers with in-depth training in Primary Social Studies teaching and skills in planning, co-ordinating, guiding and evaluating the Social Studies curriculum.

    Designed to provide teachers with in-depth training in how to meet the variety of special learning and behavioural needs of pupils in schools as well as how to assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes.

    Designed to provide teachers with in-depth training in Upper Secondary Social Studies teaching and skills in planning, co-ordinating, guiding and evaluating the Social Studies curriculum.