Principles of holistic education applied to the Teacher Education Model for the 21st Century in Singapore

Abstract

The theoretical study relates the principles of holistic education to the Teacher Education Model for the 21st Century (TE21) in Singapore. Building on the principles of holistic education, TE21 aims to produce highly qualified educators who succeed in nurturing the potential in each child. Holistic education is a humanistic and democratic educational approach that was developed in the USA. Its goal is to help every learner reach their highest innate potential, find their identity and purpose in life, and become socially and environmentally responsible. This study shows how the same principles may lead to slightly different outcomes when adjusted to the needs of Singaporean society. As a direct product of the National Institute of Education and the Ministry of Education, TE21 confirms the importance of a national educational strategy, which is the core of economic growth and political stability, as well as a tool to be used for fighting inequality and dealing with other social issues.