The previous weeks mentioned an English translation of one of the two additional articles to be found in the Chinese version of the book “The Leader, The Teacher & You.” The following is the English translation of the second article:
MR LIM SIONG GUAN IN A PRINCIPAL’S EYES
by Mrs Ho Woon Ho
In my 20 years career as a Chinese teacher, I have been abiding to the orders or commands from my superiors without any doubts. I thought my superiors are not to be questioned.
It was till 1997 when I became the principal of Henderson Secondary School that I learnt that opinions from the ground can actually be heard. In that same year, a new Permanent Secretary was appointed, and he was Mr Lim Siong Guan. Mr Lim is a wise and knowledgeable person, who is at the same time good at listening. His remarkable effectiveness and efficiency has transformed the working culture of the education system.
During his three years’ term from year 1997 to year 1999, there are three things that have left an impression on me until now.
First, an e-mail he sent to all principals. I cannot remember the details now, but I do recall it was a reminder to the principals, requesting us to respond swiftly to e-mails regarding execution of policies or instructions.
I responded right after reading the e-mail and informed Mr Lim about the situation of my school: a run-down school building with only one computer in the staff room, where more than ten teachers will crowd in a small room and take turns to use the computer. How was it possible for me to hog the shared computer and readily respond to the e-mails from the headquarters?
The next day, I received an e-mail from Mr Lim, informing me that he has arranged to link my personal computer at home to the MOE headquarters’ server, so I can check my e-mails from MOE even when I am at home. He solved my problem in a snap of the finger, how could I slack in my position?
Photo Credit: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/lim-siong-guan-superman-yoda-change-crusader-20140902
In March 1998, my school received the promotion list from the HR department of MOE. I was very shocked to see Head B promoted but not Head A. From my knowledge, Head A is well ahead of Head B in terms of years of experience, quality of work, performance and evaluation. I even checked and verified with my predecessor that Head A did have a better evaluation result than Head B. Hence I asked the school superintendent if there is any way to rectify the situation. He said the HR department has their own standards and there is no way we can pursue this issue. I called HR of MOE personally; the staff said there were guidelines to follow which they could not reveal.
As I was feeling indignant about the issue, I thought of Mr Lim. I wrote to him, explained the situation and asked him to look into the issue. On the evening of the same day, he replied to my e-mail saying that if it was a mistake committed by MOE, MOE would rectify it immediately. On the next day, HR department called me and confirmed that Head A should have been promoted. I was so grateful and touched, to me; Mr Lim was fair and wise like King Solomon.
In the year 1999, MOE chose Henderson Secondary School to be one of the pilot schools for testing out a “learning organization” programme. Half a year later, my head of department (HOD) and I visited MOE HQ to present our implementation report. After our presentation, Mr Lim Siong Guan asked my HOD whether the school could continue with the programme if there were a different principal. My HOD replied that she hoped I could stay on for a longer period of time. I took the opportunity to express my view on the rotation of principals. I personally felt that a principal should be kept in a school for longer than four or five years. This was apparently different from the policy implemented by Mr Lim at that time. However, he did not argue for, or defend, his policy, but smiled at me instead. His reaction again proved to me his magnanimity.