In July 2009 I attended the ICP convention in Singapore that was hosted by the Academy of Principals (Singapore) - APS: a huge event with an impressive array of speakers. At the time I was, as were many of the other delegates, acutely aware of the commitment of that country to education when the Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, shared their educational journey and the thinking behind each stage in that journey with participants.

In June 2010 I attended the annual conference of the APS, and again I was staggered by the insightful comments made by the Singaporean Director General of Education, Ms Ho Peng. I was left in no doubt that education is a high priority, if not the highest priority, in that country. The theme of the conference was Instructional Leadership: a Conversation with Principals. I would like to share a few comments that were part of her keynote address:

• Every time you take up a new leadership position there is a baptism of power.
• Leaders and teachers must have the faith that all learners can learn.
• A (2015) curriculum must be strong in both the fundamentals and 21^st century skills.
• Teachers must have more than knowledge; they must have deep pedagogical understanding.
• Principals must be effective pedagogical and instructional leaders.

Singapore is about to establish Academy of Singapore Teachers, and I believe the Director General’s final comment: ‘teach less and learn more’ is also relevant and timely advice for the Australian education community as we prepare to introduce the National Curriculum, and teachers and leaders are expressing concerns about indicative time and the confusion with mandated times. We must guard against the curriculum that is a mile wide and an inch deep…. ( doesn’t sound right when you say a kilometer wide and a centimeter deep!).

Remember: teach less and learn more.

A more detailed report on the conference is available - click here to go to the report page.