Inspiring Teacher of English Award 2026 winners and highlights

SINGAPORE – At St Andrew’s Junior College, some General Paper (GP) students turn news stories into quizzes for peers in their cohort.

This is one of the ways Wong Sui Lee and her team of GP teachers help students find their voice and take charge of their own learning.

“We’re able to get them to glean a better understanding of the world and also get them to be curious about what’s happening in the world,” Wong, 47, said.

The head of department for GP was one of eight English teachers who were lauded at the Inspiring Teacher of English Award 2026 on Sept 29 for kindling a love for the subject.

The award is presented by the Speak Good English Movement and The Straits Times, with support from the Ministry of Education. Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and National Development Syed Harun Alhabsyi was the guest of honour.

In his speech, he said: “Today, we exchange ideas faster and in greater volume than ever before. Yet amid this abundance, two essential abilities can quietly become lost: the ability to express ourselves clearly, in our own voice, and the ability to listen with empathy. Neither develops by accident. Both must be deliberately cultivated in our students – through the good work of our teachers.”

Speak Good English Movement chairman Jason Leow, in addressing 2026’s recipients and nominees on the role they play in their students’ lives, said: “You are not just preparing students for exams. You are shaping how they think, how they speak, and how they connect with the world. That is a heavy responsibility, and you carry it well.”

Since its inauguration in 2008, the Inspiring Teacher of English Award has recognised 159 teachers. The 2026 recipients were chosen from 107 nominations.

The award is divided into two categories – the Teaching Award and the Leadership Award.

The Teaching Award recognises teachers who exemplify good spoken and written English, while the Leadership Award honours subject heads or heads of department who have led the school towards a shared vision.

Another recipient, Sasha Kaur Dhillon, deputy dean (JC) at Temasek Junior College, takes learning outside of the classroom.

Through her project, Singapore A-Z, students pick a topic related to Singapore. They then go out to interview people and return to share with the class what they have learnt.

“You can really see their eyes light up when they say, this is actually what someone told me,” Kaur, 31, said. She said the students took an interest in the subject as the classroom discussions became more personal to them and they immersed themselves in it.

Tampines North Primary School’s Rafidah Ridzuan has believed since the start of her teaching career that it is important to connect with her pupils.

Even after 28 years of teaching, she said, the best part of her day is to sit with her pupils and talk to them during recess.

She said that her pupils love to talk about “everything under the sun”, including personal matters.

“At the end of the day, when my children talk to me about anything and everything… I’ve provided them with that safe environment,” Rafidah said.

Zheng Kankan, 39, was surprised when her student wrote her a note. The subject head of literature at Maris Stella High School had encouraged the student to compete in a poetry recitation competition.

She helped him train and curate poems for the competition. With her guidance, he developed a love for poetry.

Although he did not reach the finals, he wrote a note to Zheng to express his appreciation.

“‘He… told me, ‘Thank you for showing me the world of poetry recitation. If there’s a next competition, I would like to sign up for it.’ I was quite encouraged by that,” she said.

Jaime Ho, editor of The Straits Times, said: “There is little that is closer to the heart of journalists and The Straits Times newsroom than the beauty and wonder of language.

“We therefore have the highest regard for teachers of the English language – for it is they who bring joy to their classrooms, and inspire our children to embrace the language through which they will express their ideas, and grow to be well-informed and inspired young adults.”

The award winners received a trophy, a certificate and cash. All recipients and nominees also receive a one-year membership to the Singapore Association for Applied Linguistics.

Recipients of the Inspiring Teacher of English Award 2026

Teaching Award category

Leadership Award category

Correction note: The designations for Sasha Kaur Dhillon and Benson Pang have been updated. We are sorry for the error.